The European Union has been caught off guard by the latest developments in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, as the United States and Russia have reportedly moved toward direct peace talks without European involvement. French President Emmanuel Macron has responded by calling an emergency summit of European leaders, signaling growing concerns in Brussels over Washington’s unilateral approach to diplomacy. The summit, set to take place in Paris on February 17, aims to forge a unified European response to a process that appears to sideline the EU.

The latest diplomatic shift emerged after US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke directly on February 12, their first confirmed conversation since the Ukraine conflict intensified in February 2022. The call was followed by discussions between top diplomats from both countries, paving the way for a possible Russian-American summit on Ukraine.

Adding to European anxiety, US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg later confirmed that EU nations would not be included in the upcoming negotiations, which are reportedly set to take place in Saudi Arabia. This decision has sparked alarm among European leaders, who have played a central role in supporting Ukraine through economic aid and military assistance but now find themselves excluded from key diplomatic efforts.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who has long pushed for a greater European role in global security affairs, swiftly announced a summit to address the issue. The conference in Paris is expected to bring together key European leaders to discuss the continent’s next steps.........

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