Munich security conference concludes as Europe scrambles to mount united front amid warming US-Russia ties – Europe live
www.theguardian.com
Sun, 16 Feb 2025 10:51:44 +0200
Reports of planned meeting between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia leaves Europe concerned over Ukraine ceasefire negotiationsAnalysis JD Vance laid bare collapse of transatlantic allianceAs we mentioned in the opening summary, there are reports that senior Trump officials are heading to Saudi Arabia next week to begin socalled peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators.US national security adviser Mike Waltz, secretary of state Marco Rubio and Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia, according to Politico.Trumps special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said Europe will be consulted but ultimately excluded from the talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US.
To my European friends, I would say Get into the debate, not by complaining that you might, yes or no, be at the table, but by coming up with concrete proposals, ideas, ramp up defence spending, Kellogg said at the Munich conference on Saturday.Finlands president, Alexander Stubb, said Europe needs to talk less and do more, in response to the prospect of being shut out of talks.
Theres no way in which we can have discussions or negotiations about Ukraine, Ukraines future or European security structure, without Europeans, Stubb told reporters in Munich.
But this means that Europe needs to get its act together.The Nato chief, Mark Rutte, said Europe had to come up with good proposals for securing peace in Ukraine if it wanted to be involved in USled talks.
If Europeans want to have a say, make yourself relevant, Rutte told journalists.Ukraines foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, and Zelenskyys chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, have discussed Kyivs vision of a path to peace with Chinas foreign minister, Wang Yi.
Sybiha said on X the meeting that took place on the sidelines of the Munich conference was to reaffirm mutual respect for territorial integrity.
On Friday, Wang told the conference that China believes all stakeholders in the war in Ukraine should participate in the peace talks, underscoring Europes role in them.
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