Overview

• U.S. and Russia are set to begin peace talks in Saudi Arabia without European or Ukrainian participation, raising concerns over a potential 'dictated peace.'
• European leaders, including Germany's Olaf Scholz and France's Emmanuel Macron, convened in Paris to form a unified response to the evolving U.S. strategy.
• Germany has resisted calls for a European peacekeeping force, with Scholz emphasizing the need for U.S. involvement and warning against premature commitments.
• The U.K. and France have expressed willingness to contribute troops, while Poland and Germany remain cautious about direct military involvement.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for stronger European security guarantees, including a potential peacekeeping force, as part of broader defense commitments.