France to Hold Emergency European Summit on Ukraine, Foreign Minister Says

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a European summit in Paris on Monday, February 17, to address recent challenges in US-Europe relations under the Trump administration.

The summit is expected to focus on Europe’s role in negotiations concerning Russia’s war against Ukraine, the continent’s position on Ukraine’s NATO membership, and potential security guarantees for Ukraine.

According to The Guardian, leaders from key European nations, including Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom, along with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, are expected to attend. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also participate in the discussions before traveling to Washington for a meeting with US President Donald Trump later in the week.

“Macron will convene the main European countries to discuss European security,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told France Inter radio, adding that the meeting would be a working session that should not be “over-dramatised”.

Downing Street has confirmed Starmer’s participation in the summit and stated that he will relay key messages from the meeting to Trump during their scheduled discussions in Washington.

Speaking on the current security landscape, Starmer described it as a “once-in-a-generation moment,” emphasizing the need for Europe to take on a more significant role within NATO. He reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to maintaining cohesion between the US and Europe, stressing that divisions within the alliance should not detract from addressing external threats.

Earlier at the Munich Security Conference, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, stated that Europe would not take part in Ukraine-Russia peace talks, though it would be consulted. He urged European nations to focus on concrete proposals and defense spending rather than seeking direct involvement in negotiations.

His remarks prompted concerns among European leaders, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling for a meeting in Paris and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressing the need for a European security strategy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also addressed the issue, emphasizing that decisions on Ukraine should not be made without its participation.