European Summit in Paris on Ukraine: Macron summons leaders, but divisions remain between opposing strategies and tensions

French President Emmanuel Macron has called a extraordinary summit in Paris to discuss the crisis in Ukraine, seeking to strengthen Europe's role in managing the conflictThe informal meeting was attended by Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark, as well as the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Council Antonio Costa and the secretary of the NATO Mark Rutte.

The summit comes at a time of growing tension between Washington and Moscow, with Europe at risk of being excluded from negotiations on the Ukrainian crisisThe main objective of the meeting was to discuss and develop a shared strategy for the ceasefire and the future of European security.

Scholz: “Ukraine must be able to defend itself”

Among the most significant statements of the summit, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has firmly reiterated that Ukraine must be able to defend itself and that no peace agreement should be imposed without Kiev's consent.. "Ukraine cannot accept everything that is presented to it under any conditions.”, Scholz said, stressing that any negotiation must necessarily include the will of the Ukrainian government.

Scholz also rejected the idea of ​​sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine., calling the debate “premature” and “misleading.” “We are not yet at peace, but in the midst of a war that Russia is still waging,” he said before leaving the summit to return to Berlin.

Tusk: “Immediate increase in defense spending”

Il Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has proposed an immediate increase in defense spending in Europe, highlighting the risk of a wider conflict. “If Europe is unable to counter Russia's military potential, we must immediately make up our own ground.,” Tusk said, warning that without adequate investments, the continent could face even greater costs in the future.

Ukraine calls for European representative for negotiations

As Europe seeks a common strategy, The Kiev government has urged the EU to appoint an official representative for negotiations with the United States and RussiaThe request aims to ensure greater European participation in peace talks, avoiding decisions being taken exclusively by Washington and Moscow.

Hungary and Slovenia's opposition

Not all European leaders welcomed Macron's initiative. Il Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó harshly criticized the meeting, claiming that the summit was organized to “block peace efforts” and to counter the diplomatic approach of the new US President Donald Trump. Hungary, together with Robert Fico's Slovakia, represents one of the few dissenting voices within the EU on this issue.

Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar also expressed doubts about the summit held today, in particular the leader expressed her disappointment at the lack of inclusion of Slovenia in today's meeting. According to Pirc Musar, the European Union should ensure equal treatment for all its members in order to play a leading role on the international scene. "Only a united Europe can be strong and a protagonist in international relations. Only a Europe that inspires respect as a political, military and economic actor can guarantee security within itself and have confidence in its international relations.". His criticism highlights how the meeting organized by Macron has highlighted inequalities within the EU, stressing the need for greater inclusion in strategic decision making.

Trump-Macron talks before the summit 

A few hours before the start of the summit, the pFrench resident Macron had a telephone conversation of about twenty minutes with Donald Trump, trying to understand Washington's intentions on the Ukrainian issue. The dialogue between the two leaders could be a first sign of an attempt at rapprochement between Europe and the United States after the tensions of the last few months.

Europe still divided on strategy for Ukraine

The Paris Summit confirms Europe's willingness to play a more active role in the Ukrainian conflict, but also highlighted the deep divisions between member states. While some, such as Germany and Poland, are pushing for a strengthening of common defense and greater military assistance to Kiev, others, such as Hungary, remain opposed to any form of intervention that could be seen as an escalation of the conflict.

The Paris summit was a first step, but the path to a shared strategy still seems long and full of obstacles.