Paris, 17 February 2025 (dpa/MIA) - European leaders are gathering on Monday for an emergency summit to discuss plans by US President Donald Trump to end the war in Ukraine amid fears they will be frozen out of the negotiations.

The goal is to agree on a common strategy for dealing with Trump, including what offers can be made to him and what Europe's red lines are when it comes to Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Leaders from Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark are expected to attend the meeting in Paris, alongside European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the Élysée Palace said.

French President Emmanuel Macron set up the meeting to initiate consultations on the situation in Ukraine and the challenges for security in Europe, the statement said, adding that the process could continue in other formats.

The meeting was organized at short notice during the Munich Security Conference over the weekend.

Diplomats have said the question of what Europe can contribute to a possible peace deal will also be discussed in Paris, after the US called on Europeans to contribute more.

EU countries and Ukraine are alarmed by the prospect of the US and Russia seeking a peace settlement bilaterally, especially after Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.

In order to accelerate the negotiation process with Moscow, the Trump administration has outlined a plan that would exclude Ukraine from NATO, grant Russia territorial concessions, and close the door on US participation in future peacekeeping operations. The terms are being viewed in Europe's corridors of power as Washington turning its back on allies in favour of making a deal with Putin.

"I think he would like to stop fighting," Trump said of Putin on Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking to NBC News at the weekend, said: "I will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine, never." He went on to warn Trump: "Don’t trust Putin."

Late on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said both Ukraine and Europe should be involved in negotiations with Moscow.

The Paris meeting comes the same week that Rubio is due to meet Russian representatives together with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz in Saudi Arabia.

Neither Ukrainian nor European representatives will be at the table during the talks in Saudi Arabia.

Photo: EPA