EU chairman argues that European security architecture cannot be decided without the EU and asks for protagonism in negotiations on the future of the bloc’s defense
The EU must be involved in negotiations with Russia about the end of the war in Ukraine to trace the future security architecture of Europe, said the president of the bloc. The appeal occurs while Antonio Costa and other European leaders are preparing to meet in Paris to discuss their response to US President Donald Trump’s decision to start conversations to end the nearly three -year war with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
According to the Financial Times, conversations in Paris take place while leading US and Russia diplomats are preparing for face -to -face negotiations in Saudi Arabia and will focus on how to respond to Trump’s rapid negotiations and demand for Europe to reduce its dependence on support US military.
Last week, Trump announced bilateral conversations with Putin to end the nearly three -year war, alarming European capitals that fear an agreement without his participation.
“If Trump really wants Europeans to take on greater responsibility for their own security, then, of course, Europeans need to be the main actors in the creation of the new security architecture,” Costa told the Financial Times.
“It’s not just Ukraine,” said Costa, who represents the 27 national leaders of the bloc, in an interview at the Munich Security Conference this weekend. “Negotiations about the new security architecture need to be aware that Russia is a global threat, not just a threat to Ukraine.”
European reaction to Trump ads
Costa’s statements occurred while European capitals recovered from a week of amazing Trump administration ads, including Saudi Arabia conversations between Marco Rubio and Sergei Lavrov and a forceful speech by Vice President Jd Vance, who accused European infringing governments of infringing governments the rule of law and suffer from a more dangerous “internal threat” than Russia.
On Saturday, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said European countries would not “have a table place” in negotiations, but could have their opinions considered.
This occurred after the US sent to European capitals a request for information about which weapons, money, and peace troops could provide Post-Conflict Ukraine, at an opportunity that employees said to be pressured for the right to influence negotiations.
“Negotiations are among belligerents,” said Costa. “Of course it is necessary to negotiate between Ukraine and Russia. But this war in Ukraine is not just about Ukraine. It is about European security. ”
Prior to his invasion from Ukraine in February 2022, Putin had required NATO to reduce its defense implementations in the Eastern European states.
NATO and its Member States refused to do this.
‘Threats to European security’ and the role of Russia
Costa cited Russia’s aggressive stance on the Baltic States Estonia, Latonia and Lithuania, who are members of the EU and NATO, and the occupation of territories in states on the EU flank of the EU as reasons why Brussels needed to be part of negotiations.
“Russia is clearly a threat to Baltic sovereignty, our eastern border,” he said. “They have a military presence in Moldova, Georgia.”
Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary-General, said that if Europe wanted a role in negotiations, it needed to be clear about what they wanted and what it could offer.
“I was a little surprised by the European reaction saying, oh, we need a place at the table,” he told reporters in Munich. “If you want a table place, be sure to present relevant proposals. Be sure to spend more… especially when it comes to Ukraine. ”
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/02/17/costa-alerta-que-europa-precisa-negociar-com-a-russia/
