Media reported EU fears of being sidelined by Trump in Ukraine talks

The European Union (EU) fears that US President Donald Trump will remove representatives of the association's member states from the peace talks on Ukraine. This was reported by the Spanish newspaper El Pais on 27 January.

The publication recalled that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose powers expired on May 20, 2024, said that Europe was not guaranteed a place at the negotiating table.

In addition, the Trump administration is drafting an agreement that will not be very favorable to Kiev and sees Europe only as a financial donor for Ukraine's reconstruction, an unnamed senior European source told the newspaper. That means the EU has little leverage to influence relations with Washington.

"This scheme would be a disaster for Europe's security, not to mention a colossal geopolitical defeat," the interlocutor told El Pais.

At the same time, the EU, which has already allocated €124 billion to help the country throughout the special operation in Ukraine, would like to increase its geopolitical role and become an "anchor" of security guarantees in a future peace deal. However, Europe is losing ground to the US and China.

Second ascendancy: Trump called himself a peacemaker and promised to build the strongest military possible

The most controversial statements by the new US president about the 'golden age' U.S.

Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone conversation with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and assured that Trump is indeed committed to resolving the Ukrainian conflict.

Polish National Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on January 25 that the U.S. president would listen to the EU's views on Ukraine if the association starts investing more in its security and military industry. This would help Europe create an image of a more trustworthy ally and truly sit at the negotiating table.

Trump, in turn, said on January 21 that he would push NATO member states to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP. The head of state drew attention to the fact that Washington has spent $200 more on assistance to Kiev than other members of the bloc, and it is time for them to "level the playing field."

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the backdrop of the worsening situation in the region.