Europe stay: European leaders meet in Paris to debate Ukraine’s future

Swedish international minister Maria Malmer Stenergard instructed public radio Sveriges Radio that the nation wouldn’t rule out sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if obligatory.

“We must first now negotiate a fair and sustainable peace that respects international law… When we have such a peace in place, it will need to be maintained and for that our government is not ruling out anything,” she stated.

Keir Starmer has stated he’s ready to place British troops on the bottom in Ukraine if there’s a deal to finish the warfare with Russia – acknowledging it might put UK forces “in harm’s way” if Vladimir Putin launches one other assault.

It’s understood to be the primary time the prime minister has explicitly said he’s contemplating deploying British peacekeepers to Ukraine. The feedback got here simply earlier than emergency talks with European leaders in Paris on Monday.

Writing within the Each day Telegraph (£), he stated the UK was “ready to play a leading role” in Ukraine’s defence and safety, together with the dedication of £3bn a yr till 2030. Starmer stated that together with navy help, “it also means being ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary”.

“I do not say that lightly. I feel very deeply the responsibility that comes with potentially putting British servicemen and women in harm’s way,” Starmer stated.

“But any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine’s security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country.

The Paris meeting will aim to outline a European action plan after days of chaotic briefing by the Trump administration. The summit will also need to decide how to respond to a request by the US to spell out whether leaders are prepared to commit troops to a stabilisation force in the event of a ceasefire.

Confirming the Paris meeting, France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, told France Inter radio on Sunday: “The president will bring together the main European countries tomorrow for discussions on European security.” He stated there was a wind of unity blowing via.

It should talk about what defence capabilities Europe might present to offer Ukraine credible safety ensures, together with a plan for Ukraine to be given automated Nato membership within the occasion of a transparent ceasefire breach by Russia. The US has stated there have to be devastating penalties for any facet that breaches a ceasefire settlement, a component lacking from earlier Ukraine ceasefires since 2014.

Extra:

Morning opening: Make Europe Related Once more

Jakub Krupa

After a brutal awakening concerning the state of the transatlantic alliance over the weekend, key European leaders are assembly in Paris at this time to determine what to do subsequent.

They won’t be essentially wanting how one can Make Europe Nice Once more, as JD Vance claims he would have need them to, however how one can Make Europe Related Once more within the looming talks about Ukraine’s future.

Swiftly convened by French president Emmanuel Macron, the talks will see key regional leaders attempt to path a approach ahead outdoors the formal constructions of the European Union, and with out the chance of being sabotaged by the likes of Viktor Orbán.

Macron is predicted to be joined by Germany’s Scholz, Italy’s Meloni, Poland’s Tusk, Denmark’s Frederiksen (representing the Nordic-Baltic Eight), Spain’s Sanchez, the Netherlands’ Schoof and EU leaders in Fee president von der Leyen and Council president Costa.

The assembly will talk about what defence capabilities Europe might present to offer Ukraine credible safety ensures, together with a plan for Ukraine to be given automated Nato membership within the occasion of a transparent ceasefire breach by Russia.

However there is no such thing as a hiding from the truth that the Paris summit will probably be happening simply as US officers will probably be prepping to satisfy with Russian counterparts within the Saudi capital of Riyadh to debate a few of the points at hand – with none Ukrainians or Europeans attending.

If Europe needs to place itself again on this dialog, there’s not a lot time left to do that earlier than it’s too late, with probably devastating penalties for the safety order that saved us protected since 1945.

Pas de pression, Paris.

It’s Monday, 17 February 2024, and that is Europe Stay. It’s Jakub Krupa right here.

Good morning.