Europe will be consulted but will not have a seat at the table, says Keith Kellogg at the Munich Security Conference, reports The Guardian.
– To my European friends, give in to the debate, do not complain about whether you will be able to join or not, come up with concrete suggestions, ideas and invest more in the defense, says Keith Kellogg.
Kellogg’s argument behind the decision is that for many countries previously participated in similar negotiations without success.
– We will not go that way this time, says Keith Kellogg.
Several conflicting messages
Kellogg’s message goes against the US Vice President JD Vance delivered during Friday’s mentioned speeches where he said that Europe “obviously” will participate in the negotiations.
Several media have previously reported information that Russian President Putin and US President Trump planned to exclude Europe from the peace talks.
Zelenskyj has warned
At the same time, Ukrainian President Zelenskyj has on several occasions repeated the importance of European representatives participating in the negotiations.
– A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at that table, says Zeleskyjj at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday and continues.
– Ukraine will never accept agreements that are made behind our back without our involvement. And the same rule should apply to the whole of Europe. No decisions on Ukraine but Ukraine. No decisions on Europe without Europe.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has also warned that Europe cannot rely on getting a seat at Trump’s negotiating table.
“Europe needs its own action plan for Ukraine and our security, otherwise other global players will decide on our future. Not necessarily in line with our own interests. ” Writes Donald Tusk at X.
Malmer Stenergard: Europe must have a place at the table
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard attended the same meeting as Kellogg.
“If Europe is to be able to assist in maintaining peace, Europe must have a place at the table when peace is negotiated. I also performed that at the meeting. It is about Europe’s future and security. No peace may be negotiated without Ukraine and no negotiation on our security without Europe, ”she says in a comment on SVT News.