Europe leaders battle for unity in ‘new phase’ 

 under Trump




French President Emmanuel Macron (C) stands next to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) and European Council President Antonio Costa (L) after an informal summit of European leaders to discuss the situation in Ukraine and European security at the Elysee Palace in Paris on 17 February 2025AFP

European leaders at an emergency meeting in Paris Monday were divided on how to respond to US President Donald Trump’s dramatic policy shift on Ukraine, with France and Britain pushing for security guarantees and Germany bristling at suggestions troops could be deployed.

With European policymakers still reeling from US Vice President JD Vance’s withering attack on the European Union at an annual security conference in Munich, key leaders attended the meeting at the Elysee Palace called at the last minute by President Emmanuel Macron.

European leaders worry that Trump will freeze them out of peace talks with Moscow that will also exclude Kyiv, fears that were heightened by a rare meeting expected Tuesday in Saudi Arabia between the top diplomats from Russia and the United States.