Armin Papperger, CEO of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, has slammed the EU for being left out of US-led Ukraine peace talks, suggesting the bloc’s underinvestment in defense is to blame. In a recent interview, Papperger pointed out that the EU’s failure to ramp up defense spending caused the US to stop viewing it as an equal partner, leading to its exclusion from peace negotiations.
His comments come amid frustration in the EU after the US initiated talks with Russia without consulting European leaders. US President Donald Trump’s recent phone conversation with Vladimir Putin has sparked outrage, especially after Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, implied that EU leaders may not be included in future discussions.
Papperger made a blunt analogy, saying that while the US negotiates with Russia, Europe is left “at the kids’ table,” reflecting the EU’s perceived weakness. He stressed that the US and NATO have repeatedly pushed for European nations to increase defense spending, yet many EU countries have resisted.
The EU’s exclusion has intensified calls for Europe to be part of any Ukraine peace process. The Weimar+ group, consisting of France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, and the UK, insisted that any peace talks must involve Europe, given the potential impact on its security. In response, French President Macron called for an emergency summit to discuss how Europe should respond to the evolving situation.
