Ukraine presses Europe to nominate representative for Russia talks

Ukraine is urging Europe to quickly select a representative for potential talks with the U.S. and Russia on ending Kyiv's war with Russia.

“It should be a quickly made decision,” Igor Zhovkva, the deputy head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, told Bloomberg. “I hope right after the Paris meeting. We should act, not reflect.”

French President Emmanuel Macron convened a meeting in Paris on Monday of several European leaders, including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to address the situation in Ukraine and explore options for increasing European investment in defense.

Several European countries have been shaken by statements from Trump administration figures indicating talks could take place this week between Russia and the U.S. on ending the war. The statements at times have suggested Ukraine and western Europe would be on the outside of such talks, which has also led to new doubts about U.S. backing for Europe's security more generally.

During discussions in Brussels, Zhovkva suggested the individual chosen for the European role should be of equivalent standing to Zelensky, President Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky, speaking to reporters in Kyiv from the United Arab Emirates, also said there was a need for a European representative.

Leaders of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark and the European Union arrived at the Elysee Palace for talks on Europe’s security. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is also attending the meeting.

Speeches by Vice President Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week challenged both Europe’s security commitments and its fundamental democratic principles.

According to Macron, these rebukes and threats of noncooperation from the U.S. in the face of military danger felt like a shock to the system.