The rapid acceleration of diplomatic efforts on Ukraine demands greater coordination and action from Europe, a French presidency official stated ahead of informal talks in Paris on Monday involving several key European leaders.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump shocked NATO allies and Ukraine by revealing that he had spoken directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin about a potential peace process—without prior consultation with European partners.

Tensions escalated further on Saturday when Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, stated that Europe would not have a seat at the negotiating table for peace talks.

This came despite Washington previously sending a questionnaire to European capitals asking:

• What contributions European countries could offer to Ukraine’s security guarantees
• What support they would need from the U.S. to participate in long-term security arrangements for Kyiv

The six-point questionnaire, seen by Reuters on Sunday, highlighted uncertainty over Europe’s role in the future of Ukraine’s security.

Given these developments, a French official emphasized the need for Europe to step up its efforts:

“In light of the acceleration of developments on the Ukrainian issue, and given the statements from American leaders, there is a need for Europeans to do more, do better, and act in a more coherent manner for our collective security,” the official told reporters.

Despite the European Union’s repeated pledges to support Ukraine, the 27-member bloc has struggled to present a unified and decisive approach to both ending the war and responding to Russia’s invasion, which is now in its third year.

Previous summits have exposed divisions within the EU, making it difficult to craft a cohesive strategy on Ukraine’s defense and future security.

Monday’s meeting is expected to bring together:

• Germany, Italy, Britain, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark (representing Baltic and Scandinavian nations)
• EU leadership
• NATO Secretary General

With Europe now racing to assert its influence, the Paris talks could be a turning point in shaping the continent’s role in Ukraine’s future security arrangements—especially as Trump moves forward with direct U.S.-Russia negotiations.