As President Trump takes bold steps to end Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, European leaders find themselves scrambling to respond. Many are shocked that they have been left out of high-stakes discussions on European security and are now grappling with the possibility of a U.S. military retreat from the continent.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that “real talks” will involve Europe and Ukraine, as he prepares to meet with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia. However, this comes after a series of mixed messages from the Trump administration and sharp criticisms from Vice President Vance at the Munich Security Conference last week.
In response, the leaders of eight key European nations met to coordinate their strategy. They had not anticipated being sidelined entirely from talks that are crucial to their security interests. Even Ukrainian President Zelensky admitted he was blindsided by the announcement of peace talks in the Middle East.
“It seems Europe is finally realizing they must come up with their own plan for what’s to come,” said Sudha David-Wilp, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund. “The situation is growing more tense by the day,” said a European foreign policy expert who attended the Munich conference.
European officials have long been aware of criticisms regarding their low defense spending but didn’t expect to be entirely excluded from discussions. Now, these concerns are prompting calls to relax EU budgetary deficit rules in order to bolster defense spending.
French President Macron called an emergency meeting of major European leaders to address the growing uncertainty. U.K. Prime Minister Starmer even suggested sending British troops to Ukraine as peacekeepers to ensure Europe takes on more responsibility for its own defense.
Zelensky voiced strong opposition to Europe being sidelined, insisting that Ukraine must be part of any peace talks. He further emphasized that discussions about Ukraine cannot proceed without Ukrainian representation.
The Trump administration’s tough stance over the past week has only deepened these concerns. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned that Europe must prepare for a future where U.S. troops may no longer be stationed on the continent, while special envoy Gen. Keith Kellogg confirmed that Europe would likely not have a direct seat at the negotiating table.
The Trump team’s actions, including his recent calls to Putin and Zelensky, along with a direct challenge to Europe’s role in future negotiations, highlight the growing tension. Despite these challenges, Rubio affirmed that Europe’s role in the talks will be crucial as long as Ukraine is involved, given its direct stakes in the conflict.
This uncertainty has sparked major debates over Europe’s defense strategy. Some argue that Europe should step up and secure its future by significantly increasing its military capabilities. “If Europe wants to be part of the negotiations, it must first demonstrate its importance by contributing real resources, whether that means financial support or military assistance,” said Lithuania’s former foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
The changing landscape has left many questioning Europe’s role and its ability to adapt to shifting global realities. As the U.S. focuses more on China, European leaders face the challenge of deciding how to manage their own security without relying on American leadership.
The crisis in Ukraine is only the beginning of a broader conversation about Europe’s security future. If European nations are serious about maintaining their role on the world stage, they will need to take a more proactive approach to their own defense, with or without U.S. support.