U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine Exclude Europe, Raising Concerns About Lasting Peace

U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine Exclude Europe, Raising Concerns

The exclusion of Europe and Ukraine from recent U.S.-Russia talks on the Ukraine crisis has exposed deepening rifts in trans-Atlantic relations. Experts fear a thaw in relations between Washington and Moscow could reshape the conflict, leaving Europe and Ukraine's interests sidelined in peace negotiations.

European leaders expressed concern over being excluded from the closed-door talks, fearing their interests might be ignored in U.S. President Donald Trump's pursuit of a Ukraine deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also criticized his nation's exclusion, stating that Ukraine would not accept any outcome from discussions in which Kyiv was not involved.

The contrast between the U.S. and Europe's views on the crisis is stark. For Europe, the conflict is an existential matter, while for Trump, it's a matter of cost-benefit. The Trump administration believes the conflict is not worth the investment and seeks to strategically withdraw from Europe to focus on other priorities, including easing tensions with Russia. Conversely, Europe sees the Ukraine issue through a values-based perspective, with deep-seated distrust and hostility toward Russia, leading them to discuss supporting Ukraine independently.

French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to host a meeting on Ukraine on Wednesday, aiming to coordinate a European response to what he describes as an "existential threat" from Russia, following the U.S. policy shift.

The Riyadh talks marked the first face-to-face meeting between senior U.S. and Russian officials since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began. The discussions resulted in several agreements aimed at resolving bilateral issues and thawing diplomatic ties. Both countries agreed to set up a consultation mechanism to manage bilateral relations and normalize diplomatic missions. They will also appoint high-level teams to work toward a lasting resolution of the conflict while exploring future cooperation on geopolitical and economic interests tied to a resolution of the conflict.

Experts believe the discussions revolved around initiating full-scale negotiations to resolve the Ukraine crisis, with both sides resuming normal diplomatic interactions across a broad agenda. However, the exclusion of Europe and Ukraine from these initial talks has raised concerns about their future involvement and the potential for lasting peace in the region.