The European Union's position at the negotiating table to bring an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine remains unclear following a series of diplomatic exchanges.
US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg met separately on Tuesday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, both of whom are keen to reaffirm the EU's stance in the rapidly evolving process initiated by US President Donald Trump.
The results of the meetings indicate that neither president has received any additional assurances that a seat will be reserved for Europe.
He stated that the EU would be invited to join the table, but only for the purpose of granting sanctions relief to the Kremlin.
There will be other parties that have sanctions, the European Union will eventually have to be involved because they too have imposed sanctions, Rubio said, contending that concessions from all parties will be necessary.
He emphasized that no one is being left out of this situation,
Rubio's proposal of sanctions relief contradicts the EU's aim of forcing Russia to pay for its aggression against Ukraine. The EU has introduced a pioneering loan for Kyiv, with Russia's frozen assets serving as collateral. If the funds were released as the Kremlin desires, the loan would collapse, leaving capitals responsible for repayment obligations.
During her meeting with Kellogg, von der Leyen emphasized that the EU is ready to "work alongside the US to put an end to the bloodshed and bring about a just and lasting peace that Ukraine and its people rightfully deserve," her office stated in a summary.
The president "reaffirmed that any resolution must uphold Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, supported by robust security assurances."
According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Europe's combined support of €132 billion has surpassed America's €114 billion.
Commission officials were asked if they had secured a promise that Europe would have a say in the matter. A spokesperson declined to provide further information, stating that any solution for Ukraine should be "worked out" with the involvement of both Kyiv and the EU, as Ukraine is currently a candidate to join the bloc.
These various gatherings mark the start of a process," the spokesperson noted. "Ultimately, all parties involved will need to come together and determine how to proceed.
The Costa-Kellogg meeting had a comparable atmosphere.
"Ukraine can rely on Europe. We are prepared to continue working constructively with the US to ensure peace and security," Costa stated on social media.
The European Council president warned that "peace cannot be a simple ceasefire," a view shared by other European leaders who fear that a hasty agreement to end the fighting could allow Russia to reassemble its forces and spark a new conflict in the future.
Kellogg's office did not provide an immediate statement. On his X account, he described his meeting with Costa as "great discussions."
Table for four?
Meetings with Kellogg occur a day following an emergency assembly of eleven European leaders, including von der Leyen and Costa, held in Paris at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron in response to the phone conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, as well as the sudden initiation of negotiations.
The White House has circulated a questionnaire inquiring about European willingness to deploy a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine and what they expect in return from the United States.
President Macron spoke with President Trump both before and after the summit.
The French leader also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has repeatedly expressed that his country would not accept an agreement made without its consent.
Security guarantees must be strong and dependable," Zelenskyy said after speaking with Macron on Monday evening. "Any other decision without such guarantees – such as a fragile ceasefire – would only serve as another deception by Russia and a prelude to a new Russian war against Ukraine or other European nations.
The Trump-Putin call, which occurred without prior consultation with Western allies, shattered a three-year effort to diplomatically isolate the Russian leader and sent a powerful shockwave across European capitals, visibly unsettling them.
Kellogg heightened the sense of alarm by stating that Europe would be consulted throughout the process but ultimately left out of the decision-making table.
"We don't want to get involved in a big group discussion," the retired general said last week at the Munich Security Conference.
Kellogg stated that the peace process would follow a "dual-track" approach: on one hand, the US would engage in dialogue with Russia, and on the other hand, the US would engage in dialogue with Ukraine and its democratic allies that support the war-torn nation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Saudi Arabia, with both sides agreeing on the appointment of dedicated teams to continue the discussions.
The Kremlin stated that the meeting had been a "serious conversation on all issues", however, it was "difficult" to determine whether the positions were becoming "more aligned".
The Secretary of Rubio referred to it as "the first step of a long and difficult journey," with additional meetings to take place. "The objective is to bring an end to this conflict in a manner that is fair, enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all parties concerned," Rubio stated.
Before the Riyadh negotiations, Sergei Lavrov ruled out Europe's involvement in the process.
I'm not sure what they should do at the negotiating table. If they claim to want to resolve the conflict, but secretly plan to continue the war, then why invite them to the talks?
No date has yet been scheduled for a meeting between Trump and Putin.