Some European leaders wary of US approach to Ukraine peace talks as UK, France plan new meeting

A U.S. connection to extremity the warfare successful Ukraine has opened immoderate disagreement with cardinal European allies, with Paris, Berlin and Helsinki signaling they volition not beryllium sidelined during talks successful Geneva.

A elder European diplomat told Fox News Digital that Europe would not judge a U.S.-driven statement without afloat European involvement. "No negotiations astir Ukraine without Ukrainians. No negotiations astir Europe’s information without Europeans," the diplomat said.

Some of the European concerns came a time aft Secretary of State Marco Rubio said connected Sunday that the U.S. and Ukraine made "substantial" headway connected an "updated and refined bid framework." He called it "the astir productive time we person had," acknowledged unresolved issues, and said matters involving the EU and NATO would proceed connected a "separate track." Negotiators from the U.S., Ukraine and large European states are expected to proceed discussions passim the week.

US AND RUSSIA DRAFT PEACE PLAN FOR UKRAINE REQUIRING MAJOR CONCESSIONS FROM KYIV

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, code the media aft closed-door talks astatine the U.S. Mission successful Geneva, Switzerland, November 23, 2025.  (Emma Farge/Reuters)

The European authoritative called the American program "a ground that requires further work," adding that "the archetypal of these conditions indispensable beryllium the implementation of a ceasefire on the enactment of contact." According to the diplomat, France and the United Kingdom volition convene a Coalition of Volunteers gathering connected Tuesday to coordinate Europe’s position.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned astatine the Group of 20 acme successful South Africa connected the play that Europe cannot beryllium chopped retired of immoderate settlement. "Wars cannot beryllium ended by large powers implicit the heads of the countries affected," helium said, adding, "We are inactive rather a mode from a bully result for everyone."

President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll beryllium earlier closed-door talks with Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak (not pictured) connected ending Russia's warfare successful Ukraine, astatine the U.S. Mission successful Geneva, Switzerland, November 23, 2025. REUTERS/Emma Farge

French President Emmanuel Macron echoed those concerns connected the sidelines the summit, saying the U.S. program "has not been negotiated with the Europeans," adjacent though it contains "many provisions that interest Europeans directly." He pointed to projected limits connected Ukraine’s subject capacity, calling them "limitations connected the size of the Ukrainian service — successful different words, connected its ain sovereignty."

"It is affirmative successful the consciousness that it proposes a way to bid and acknowledges important elements regarding sovereignty, information guarantees, and different issues. But it is lone a ground for enactment that needs to resume, conscionable arsenic we did past summer, due to the fact that this program has not been negotiated with the Europeans," Macron told reporters.

TRUMP, ZELENSKYY AGREE ON CRUCIAL ASPECT TO END UKRAINE WAR: 'GOOD COMPROMISE'

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and and different members of the U.S. delegation, and Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and different members of the Ukrainian delegation beryllium earlier closed-door talks connected ending Russia's warfare successful Ukraine, astatine the U.S. Mission successful Geneva, Switzerland, November 23, 2025. REUTERS/Emma Farge  (REUTERS/Emma Farge )

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb wrote connected X connected Monday that NATO volition asseverate power implicit issues successful their remit: "It is wide that Europe and NATO determine connected matters concerning them."

Amid the friction, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told "Fox & Friends" connected Monday the U.S. effort inactive contained constructive elements, saying "some elements had to beryllium changed, but determination was besides bully worldly successful the plan." In the interview, Rutte told Brian Kilmeade that President Trump’s squad is "working highly hard to get this warfare solved," with the extremity of "a durable and lasting bid successful Ukraine, a sovereign nation."

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is greeted by US President Donald Trump (L) upon accomplishment astatine the White House West Wing successful Washington, DC, connected August 18, 2025.  President Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the United States would "work connected the provisions of the plan" and are acceptable for "constructive, honorable and swift work." (Photo by Andrew Caballero-Reynoldes / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images))

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reinforced Kyiv’s reddish lines successful an code to Sweden’s parliament connected Monday, "The aggressor indispensable wage afloat for the warfare helium started," rejecting territorial concessions. "Putin wants ineligible designation for what helium has stolen… That is the main problem," Zelenskyy said.

Moscow dismissed emerging European ideas arsenic "not constructive," according to Russian statesmanlike adjutant Yuri Ushakov according to Reuters.