European leaders closed ranks this week to reject peace deals excluding Ukrainian voices, as a U.S. envoy appointed by former President Donald Trump prepared for high-stakes talks in Moscow. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz led the charge, declaring "No decision about Ukraine without Ukrainians" during back-to-back meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
🔊 Macron emphasized at a Paris press conference: "Any peace plan must involve both Ukraine and Europe at the negotiating table." The statement came amid discussions about frozen Russian assets and Ukraine’s potential EU membership—topics Zelenskyy called "critical for ending this conflict with dignity."
🇩🇪 In Berlin, Merz doubled down: "Germany opposes any dictated peace." Polish PM Donald Tusk joined the chorus, highlighting joint efforts to "strengthen Europe’s security architecture" amid rising geopolitical tensions.
🌐 With Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics also demanding a seat at future negotiations, the unified European stance contrasts sharply with Trump-era diplomacy revival efforts. As one Elysee Palace insider noted: "This isn’t 2022—the rules of engagement have changed."
