After three years of efforts to isolate Moscow, the United States’ approach saw a tectonic shift as it tabled the resolution to end the conflict in Ukraine at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Since the Riyadh talks last week, there has been a strain in transatlantic relations and diplomatic priorities, where President Trump is keen to end the war and European leaders are anxious about how he might reach negotiations with President Putin, fearing it may weaken the Western unity and undermine NATO’s stance against Russia.
The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2774 (2025)
Adopted as Resolution 2774 (2025) by a vote of 10 in favour to none against, with 5 abstentions (Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, United Kingdom), the UNSC implored a swift end to the conflict and urged a lasting peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. After the unamended text was adopted, the United States representative expressed gratitude for the Council members’ backing of the resolution, marking the first Council action on Ukraine in three years and strongly advocating for an end to the conflict. The United States’ speaker stated, “This resolution sets us on the path to peace,” emphasising that, while it is just the initial step, it is a critical one. The Council must now leverage this resolution to create a peaceful future for Ukraine, the Russian Federation, and the global community.
The US-drafted resolution, notably avoided labelling Russia as the aggressor or acknowledging Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The Kremlin has welcomed what it characterised as a ‘much more balanced’ US position on Ukraine, following the Trump administration’s successful advocacy for a UN Security Council resolution. At a briefing, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that the move was evidence that US is willing to find a peaceful settlement to the conflict.
Macron’s Visit to Washington
At the invitation of President Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron had travelled to Washington on 24 February 2025. The two heads of state discussed Ukraine, European security and trade. Macron, who developed a friendly relationship with Trump during the latter’s first term, has become the first European leader to visit him since the start of his second term on 20 January. His visit also occurred amid increasing public tensions between Europe and the US, particularly regarding the European security and the future of Ukraine in its war with Russia.
During a news conference after the meeting, Macron emphasised that ending the war in Ukraine – an outcome Trump has suggested might involve Ukraine giving up territory – should not result in a weak agreement or Ukraine’s “surrender.” He further said that, “This peace must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty and allow Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders.” While urging Trump that any peace agreement must be fair to Ukraine. Macron also recognised Trump’s long-standing concerns about the US taking on an excessive share of European security responsibilities, particularly in relation to Ukraine. He stated that European nations “need to do more… to more fairly share the security burden that your country has been carrying for so many years.”
The two leaders agreed that a European peacekeeping force could be deployed to Ukraine as part of a potential peace deal, a condition Trump claimed Putin would also accept. “They would not be along the front lines. They would not be part of any conflict. They would be there to ensure that the peace is respected,” Macron explained.
Even though, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov refrained from directly contradicting Trump, he highlighted an earlier statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who had clearly articulated Moscow’s stance. “There is a position on this matter that was expressed by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. I have nothing to add or comment on. I leave this without comment,” Peskov said.
Outcomes of Riyadh Talks last week
On 18 February, the United States of America (US) and the Russian Federation agreed to work towards ending the Ukraine war. The meeting between senior officials from both sides, included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff (representing the US) and Russia’s longstanding Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov. The negotiations held in Riyadh are being seen as a crucial step towards a future resolution in the Ukraine conflict. Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, highlighted that both sides have shown “due political will” and that the talk focused on creating conditions to achieve a peaceful resolution.
As stated in a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, both – Russia and the US discussed on wide range of issues, including the prospects of bilateral ties. The parties also shared their perspectives on the situation in Ukraine and reaffirmed their joint commitment to resolving the conflict. The Russian side has stressed on the need to address the underlying causes of the conflict, establish the right conditions for lasting peace, and safeguard the security and legitimate interests of all countries in the region.
Further, an agreement was reached to continue collaborative efforts, as both sides agreed to appoint respective ambassadors soon, and to start consultations at the level of deputy foreign ministers to remove restrictions on activities of the diplomatic missions of the two countries. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that an agreement had been reached to form a high-level team to assist in Ukraine peace talks and explore the “opportunities that will arise from a successful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.” Officials from both sides have also agreed on identifying the “economic and investment opportunities” that could arise with the end of the Ukraine conflict.
The release also mentioned that, the parties agreed to reopen communication channels to address other international issues, acknowledging the special responsibility of Russia and the United States in matters of peace and security, given their status as nuclear powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Similarly, the Foreign Minister to the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, said that he believes the discussion was “very useful”, where both sides “were not just listening to each other, but heard each other”. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed that he values the talks “highly” and sees them as a strong first step. There have also been discussions about the potential for a meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump, though no confirmation has been made as of yet.
The five-hour discussion between both sides can be seen as the initial attempt to set common grounds for a possible peace deal, something President Trump is very keen on. Despite the direct Russia-US negotiations, Ukraine and its European allies have made it clear they cannot be sidelined in the peace process. President Zelenskyy has emphasised that no decision regarding Ukraine’s future should be made without its involvement, evident in his postponement of a visit to Saudi Arabia to avoid legitimising the talks. The European nations have also reiterated their will to be part of the possible peace discussions. Likewise, any negotiation involving Ukraine cannot be made without the involvement of their Russian counterparts. Therefore, while Western boots on the ground might still be debatable, it is necessary that the parties concerned sit opposite to each other while deciding the fate of Ukraine, and European security at large.
European Reactions
As Washington initiated direct negotiations with Moscow, Ukraine and its European allies have voiced their concerns of Trump pushing for a peace settlement that favours Russian President Vladimir Putin. Even though no European or Ukrainian officials were involved in the meeting, on 16 February, prior to the Riyadh talks, Trump stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “will be involved” in the negotiations, without providing any additional details.
Dismissing Ukraine’s concerns about being excluded, Trump remarked, “Today I heard, ‘Oh, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it three years ago – you should have never started it. You could have made a deal.” In doing so, he appeared to imply that Kyiv was responsible for the war. He further affirmed his stance by stating, that he thinks he has the power to end this war.
Zelenskyy who was in Turkey at the time of the Russia-US meet, has claimed that his visits had nothing in common with the talks. The Ukrainian President further stated that he had postponed his visit to Saudi Arabia, initially scheduled for 19 February, until 10 March. He explained that the delay was to avoid any “coincidences” in timing. According to a source reported by Reuters, “(Ukraine) didn’t want to appear to give anything that happened in Riyadh any legitimacy”. Zelenskyy also asserted, “We (Ukrainians) do not want anyone making decisions behind our backs… No decision regarding the end of the war in Ukraine can be made without Ukraine’s involvement.”
These negotiations have also garnered reactions from political figures across Europe. The German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has criticised Trump’s approach to possible peace negotiations, pointing that “this may prove to be a historic, pivotal moment for transatlantic relations, after which we (possibly indicating Europe and the US) risk taking different paths”.
The United Kingdom Prime Minister Kier Starmer, wrote in an op-ed for Monday’s Daily Telegraph that Ukraine must be included in any discussions regarding its future, emphasising that anything less would effectively endorse Putin’s stance that Ukraine is not a legitimate nation. Starmer has also called for an increase in the defence spending budget of European nations, urging them to play a greater role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
French President Emmanuel Macron who was scheduled to meet Trump, at the White House on 24 February 2025, said, in a social media Q&A that he would warn Trump against appearing weak to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He further stated that he would work to convince Trump that the interests of the US and Europe are aligned and “if you (Trump) allow Russia to take over Ukraine, it would become unstoppable.” Macron thus emphasised that any peace agreement must involve Ukrainians and Europeans at the negotiating table.
Will European Troops be sent to Ukraine?
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that he was prepared to deploy troops to Ukraine, if necessary, just hours before European leaders were scheduled to meet in Paris on Monday, February 17, to discuss Washington’s unexpected shift in policy regarding the Ukraine war.
In response to Starmer’s statement, Germany indicated that it was “premature” to consider sending its troops to war-torn Ukraine as part of a potential peacekeeping force. German deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann told reporters in Berlin, “We have repeatedly stated that, first and foremost, we must wait to see whether and how peace will hopefully materialise for Ukraine. Only then can we discuss the conditions and how this could be implemented.”
Sweden has also indicated that it would not exclude the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine if required. In a statement to public radio station Sveriges Radio, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard emphasised the need to first negotiate a fair and sustainable peace that adheres to international law, upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty, and prevents Russia from simply withdrawing, regrouping, and launching future attacks on Ukraine or other nations. Stenergard further stated that once such a peace agreement is in place, it will require sustained efforts to maintain, and for that reason, the Swedish government is not ruling out any potential actions.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, on the other hand, stated that, “Poland will support Ukraine as it has done so far: organisationally, in accordance with their financial capabilities, in terms of humanitarian and military aid” and that it did not plan to send troops to Ukraine for security purposes.
From the Russian side, however, Lavrov has rejected the prospect of deployment of NATO member troops in Ukraine, even under a different flag. Russia has consistently opposed the idea of Western boots on Ukrainian soil. “We explained to our colleagues today what President Putin has repeatedly stressed: that the expansion of NATO, the absorption of Ukraine by the North Atlantic alliance, is a direct threat to the interests of the Russian Federation, a direct threat to our sovereignty,” Lavrov said.
Therefore, it seems that the European nations will have to work on collaborations to ensure European security as the US goes ahead with further negotiations to strike a peace deal in Ukraine, with Russia.
European Leaders meet in Paris
While President Trump’s newly appointed officials prepared for talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, a group of European leaders met in Paris in an emergency meeting to craft a strategy for their own security. The meeting convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, brought together the leaders of the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Denmark, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
This meeting occurred shortly after the Munich Security Conference, during which US Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a speech in which he criticised European countries for deviating from “democratic values” in their opposition to far-right political parties and what he characterised as excessive censorship.
Macron, who chose to skip the Munich Security Conference, has sought to position himself as an interlocutor, engaging in discussions with Trump both before and after the emergency meeting, during which he also spoke with Zelenskyy. He has reiterated on Europe’s support to for a “strong and lasting peace in Ukraine” and that all Europeans, Americans, and Ukrainians will work together to achieve it. Writing in a post on X, Ursula von der Leyen stated that the group supports peace which is “respectful of its (Ukraine’s) independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, with strong security guarantees.”
Even though the Paris meeting did not contribute to any significant discussion on the peace processes regarding the conflict in Ukraine, it did help the European leaders to put up a united front in face of being sidelined from the Russia-US talks, and showcased their continued support for Ukraine.
