US President Donald Trump’s recent “lengthy and highly productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised alarm in Europe over a potential peace deal in Ukraine that favors Moscow while sidelining Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern that Washington and Moscow might negotiate without Ukraine’s involvement, calling it “not pleasant” that Trump spoke to Putin first. While Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have since stated that Ukraine will be included in negotiations, Trump’s vague response to a question about Ukraine’s role has done little to reassure European allies.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, warned against a “quick fix” that leaves Ukraine and Europe out of critical discussions. European NATO members, long reliant on US military support, now face uncertainty. Trump’s call with Putin and his immediate push for negotiations caught European leaders off guard, sparking concerns that Europe will bear the financial and security burdens of any settlement.
Hegseth confirmed that while European and non-European troops may be tasked with enforcing a potential peace deal, US forces would not be involved. He also dismissed Ukraine’s NATO membership as “not a realistic outcome,” a stance that contradicts the alliance’s previous assurances.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė emphasized that Europe, having provided more aid to Ukraine than the US last year, deserves a seat at the negotiating table. Meanwhile, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned that underestimating Putin could have dire consequences.
European leaders will seek clarification from the Trump administration at this weekend’s Munich Security Conference, but Moscow is already celebrating Europe’s reduced role in the discussions.
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