European officials are sounding the alarm after former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly agreed to kick-start negotiations on Ukraine—without first consulting Kyiv or its European allies.
“We’ve agreed to begin talks immediately. First step? Calling President Zelensky right now to inform him,” Trump announced on his social media platform on February 12.
That same day, top diplomats from France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Ukraine huddled in Paris, issuing a joint statement insisting that any peace deal must serve Kyiv’s interests. “Ukraine and Europe cannot be sidelined—we must be part of the negotiation,” they declared.
The prospect of Trump striking a deal directly with Putin has sent shockwaves through the EU, raising fears that Washington might strong-arm Ukraine into making concessions. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned against forcing Kyiv into surrender, arguing it would embolden dictators worldwide to invade their neighbors without consequences. His Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares Bueno, dismissed Trump’s approach outright. “The world isn’t some lawless jungle,” he said. “We have a global order based on the UN Charter, and it has served us well since World War II.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled a major shift in U.S. policy, calling Ukraine’s goal of reclaiming its pre-2014 borders “unrealistic.” He also threw cold water on Kyiv’s NATO aspirations, suggesting membership wasn’t a feasible path forward.
“We all want a sovereign and thriving Ukraine,” Hegseth stated on February 12. “But first, we must acknowledge the reality—going back to Ukraine’s old borders just isn’t in the cards.”
Trump later announced a high-stakes meeting set for February 14 in Munich, where U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will sit down to discuss next steps.
“I’m optimistic about the outcome,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “It’s time to put an end to this senseless war—so much death, so much destruction, and all of it completely unnecessary.”
