Three European countries are preparing their own format for peace talks on Ukraine
European countries fear that key agreements regarding Ukraine may be reached without them.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, already former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the porch of the British Prime Minister's residence. Photo: Kin Cheung / AP
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are working on their own format for negotiations on Ukraine, fearing that the US might exclude Europe from key agreements, writes RBC-Ukraine.
According to five European officials, the three countries have joined forces to secure Europe a place at the negotiating table. As noted by two high-ranking European diplomats and one high-ranking European official, France and Germany are playing a leading role in shaping a common European position.
The United Kingdom is acting more cautiously, particularly due to fears of worsening relations with US President Donald Trump.
At the same time, European diplomats emphasize that relations with Russia and the settlement of the war in Ukraine are of direct importance for Europe's security. Therefore, they want to ensure that Washington and Moscow do not conclude any agreement without the knowledge of European allies.
So far, there are few indications that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for serious negotiations. European officials expect that if a diplomatic process begins, the US will play a leading role in negotiations with Moscow.
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, known as the 'E-three' format, are the core of a 'coalition of the willing' supporting Ukraine. They have also been developing options for military and security guarantees for Ukraine after the conclusion of a potential peace agreement.
At the same time, according to European officials, Poland, Italy, and the Nordic countries should be included in the consultations. The European Union should also be informed and later join the process.
However, some states, particularly the Baltic states and Hungary, do not fully trust France and Germany to represent their interests.
The UK Foreign Office stated that the current discussion remains speculative. An EU representative emphasized that various diplomatic efforts complement each other, rather than competing.