After JD Vance shocked Europeans as he supported German right-wing party Alternative Für Deutschland (AfD) one week before the country’s elections, two related conferences were announced. On the one hand, French president Emmanuel Macron announced an ’emergency’ meeting in Paris. On the other side, the Russian delegation invited their American counterparts to negotiate about their peace deal concerning Ukraine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Although the conference was set up in good faith by Macron, there was a major issue with who he invited. The French President summoned the Spaniards, Germans, Brits, Poles, Nordics and the Dutch. Also invited were Mark Rutte (NATO), Ursula Von Der Leyen (European Commission) and Antonio Costa (European Council). However, the meeting did not include Czechia and Romania, two countries which have been large contributors for aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion.
British PM Keir Starmer insisted his country wanted to continue to help Ukraine, claiming he would be ready to send UK troops on Ukrainian soil. He was not alone, as Polish PM Donald Tusk also said he wanted his country to strengthen their military. However, Tusk ruled out sending Polish troops to Ukraine, creating a division in the meeting. Host Macron insisted the US, Ukraine and Europe must “work together” to achieve peace, through a tweet on Twitter. The meeting left most participants with the feeling of something unachieved, believing the EU and NATO must further discuss what concrete measures will be taken. The Munich Conference is still fresh, with the United States insisting on meeting the Russian delegation. JD Vance and General Kellogg both said the meeting would happen without any European representation.
Similarly to Paris, the Riyadh conference did not advance the case much further. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted strongly to the announcement of the Riyadh meeting, acting surprised: “We did not expect it. We will not recognize any decision and will not travel to Riyadh”. He insisted no advance can be achieved without his country’s participation. Zelenskyy repeated he would not meet with the Russian delegation: “You know it used to be sort of not good to speak to the aggressor during the war”.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hit back at Zelenskyy’s comments, saying he does not “understand why Europeans need to be at a deal about Ukraine”. Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Putin is ready to end the war and negotiate with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but only if “necessary”. However, he questioned the Ukrainian’s “legitimacy” in such scenarios. One of the major takeaways by the end of the meeting was that the US and Russian delegates agreed to: “address irritants to our bilateral relationship with the objective of taking steps necessary to normalize the operation of our respective diplomatic missions”. Lavrov also said that “any deployment of NATO forces in Ukraine” would be unacceptable, calling it “one of Biden’s worst mistakes”. He added that “this would have never happened under President Trump”. When asked about Zelenskyy’s refusal to recognize any outcome from the Riyadh summit, Lavrov declined to comment.
Meanwhile, the US National Security Adviser said that “there will be some discussions on territory”, but refused to elaborate what that practically meant.
US State Secretary Marco Rubio followed by insisting that “President Trump is the only leader who can make it [peace] happen”, citing “concessions need to be made by both sides”. However, Rubio stirred controversy as he insisted Europe would need to remove sanctions pointed at Russia since the invasion, once the war will be over. The famous encounter between Trump and Putin is soon expected to take place, but there is no official date set until now. He also insisted that the US would continue to talk with European countries, but that they might not meet the Russian delegates or at least not directly.
US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz insisted it is “unacceptable” that a third of their NATO Allies have not met the 2% GDP minimum. At the same time, US officials emphasized the need for Europe to lead security guarantees for Ukraine.
European leaders did not take the news well, as EU economy and trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis made it clear that Europeans are planning to continue to impose sanctions: “The EU will need to take issues related to [the] EU’s security more in its own hands. That also concerns sanctions policy. As you know, the work continues on preparing the 16th sanctions package”. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the current situation “worse than the cold war” in front of the Danish Parliament, as she requested her country increase their defence spending amid worries Russia could invade more countries after Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted quickly by postponing his trip to Saudi Arabia, now scheduled for March 10th, angry that his country was not represented in Riyadh: Talks “are taking place between representatives of Russia and representatives of the United States of America. About Ukraine – about Ukraine again – and without Ukraine”. As he is currently in Ankara (Turkey), he also argued the country would be an ideal place for peace talks.
Ukrainian officials located in Kyiv also reacted, calling Moscow’s peace claims “absurd while killing Ukrainians”, as millions of Ukrainians were told to seek shelter in the Ukrainian capital as sirens warned of ballistic missiles hitting Kyiv. Polish President Andrzej Duda met Ukraine US envoy Kellogg, assuring Poles that “US troops will not be reduced on the Eastern border”.
France announced it will host another meeting with more partners on Wednesday, including Canada, Norway, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belgium, Czechia, Romania, Greece and Finland.
