Trump to meet Putin to discuss war in Ukraine, Europe wants a seat at the table

United States President Donald Trump said on February 13 that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future, most likely in Saudi Arabia, to negotiate the end of the war in Ukraine.

This comes as European defence leaders came together with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in a meeting that revealed fundamental differences in how Europe and the U.S. viewed Europe’s defence arrangements.

Appeasement

The Financial Times reported that on Feb. 12, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump posted on social media saying that he and Putin had agreed to work closely together to end the war in Ukraine and that both leaders had agreed on reciprocal state visits.

He said he believed that the talks would be “successful” and that the loss of life in the war would end.

Trump said to the gathered press that he would meet with Putin in Saudi Arabia and talks would be hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Trump suggested that there could be up to three meetings with Putin in the immediate future, with the first likely being in Saudi Arabia, as both leaders knew the crown prince and that it would be “a very good place to be”.

Trump indicated that his sole goal was to “try and get peace”, saying that he did not “care so much about anything other than that and just wanted to stop having millions of people killed”.

Long and detailed

Trump also spoke with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, who posted on social media saying that he and Trump had a “long and detailed conversation”, and that Trump informed him about what “Putin had told him”.

I had a long and detailed conversation with President Trump. I appreciate his genuine interest in our shared opportunities and how we can bring about real peace together.

We discussed many aspects—diplomatic, military, and economic—and President Trump informed me about what… pic.twitter.com/flmigxqtbl

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 12, 2025

Zelensky struck a seemingly optimistic tone, saying he appreciated “his genuine interest in our shared opportunities and how we can bring about real peace together”.

He said he believed that “America’s strength is sufficient to pressure Russia and Putin into peace”, along with Ukraine and its partners.

Border control

Trump’s goal of peace seems straightforward but is complicated by a multitude of factors.

One prominent issue is the significant difference between what Ukraine and Russia deem to be the acceptable post-war border.

Ukraine wants the restoration of the pre-2014 border before parts of its eastern regions were taken over by forces that Russia at the time claimed were not affiliated with them.

Meanwhile, Russia has “annexed” four of Ukraine’s easternmost regions, but despite making most of its significant gains in the 2022 invasion in those regions, is significantly some distance away from controlling them entirely.

Hegseth has said that he believes Ukraine's goal of restoring its pre-2014 borders is “unrealistic”, indicating that Russia will see some territorial gains from its invasion.

Politico reported Hegseth calling it an “illusionary goal” and would “only prolong the war and cause more suffering”.

Renouncement

Hegseth was speaking after a meeting with European counterparts in Belgium, a meeting that also included the United Kingdom.

There he gave a stark warning that the U.S. would be reducing its military commitments in Europe, which Politico said was the U.S. "renouncing the historic role it has played since the end of World War II”.

Hegseth indicated that Europe would be expected to “bear primary responsibility” for its own defence, as well as security arrangements for Ukraine.

While saying that NATO membership for Ukraine was “unrealistic”, Hegseth also ruled out U.S. troops or NATO participation in any peacekeeping operation.

The FT reported that Hegseth said that “capable European and non-European troops” should be deployed in Ukraine to ensure peace, and any NATO nation's troops' participation would not be covered by its mutual defence clause.

War of aggression

A statement released by six European countries, France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, said that “Ukraine and Europe must be part” of any peace negotiations.

The statement said that they looked forward to "discussing the way ahead together with our American allies, and that “our shared objectives should be to put Ukraine in a position of strength”.

It also called for Ukraine to be provided with “strong security guarantees” and that lasting peace in Ukraine is a necessary condition for “a strong transatlantic security",

They said they were ready to "enhance" support for Ukraine, committing to its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, “in the face of Russia's war of aggression”.

Odds

Such a commitment to territorial integrity likely puts Ukraine and Europe immediately at odds with Russia's and the U.S.'s position.

Politico spoke to several European leaders who underlined that Ukraine and Europe’s participation in peace talks were essential.

Ukrainian politicians for their part cast doubt on Hegseth’s assessment, with the Ukrainian parliament's foreign relations committee head saying that Ukraine had the capability to return all of its territory.

But this was dependent on more “military-technical assistance” from the US, and stronger financial sanctions against the Russian economy.

Top image via White House/YouTube, Kremlin/X & Volodymyr Zelenskyy/X