Putin warned Ukraine and EU countries "not to create any obstacles", Macron called for increased pressure on Russia

Europe - Putin clearly stated on Friday, warning Ukraine and EU countries "not to create any obstacles" and not to "try to sabotage new progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes schemes." On Saturday, the French presidential palace said that leaders of the UK, France, and Germany will hold a video conference on Sunday, convening so-called "voluntary alliances," to discuss how to move towards peace in Ukraine. The day after the meeting, on Monday, Zelenskyy will travel to Washington to meet with Trump.

For European leaders, at least one benefit of the summit between Russian President Putin and US President Trump not reaching an agreement on the Ukraine issue is that Europe has not been completely sidelined at a critical strategic moment for the future of the continent.

Putin clearly stated on Friday, warning Ukraine and EU countries "not to create any obstacles" and not to "try to sabotage new progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes schemes."

James Nixey, a Russian foreign policy expert, said: "It's clear that Putin's intention is to keep Europeans out and leave Americans inside."

After informing Trump and Zelenskyy on Saturday, EU leaders held a video conference on next steps.

In a statement signed by French President Macron, German Chancellor Scholz, UK Prime Minister Starmer, and European Commission President von der Leyen, they stated that Moscow "cannot veto" Ukraine's accession to the EU or NATO.

Macron then called for increased pressure on Russia until achieving a "solid and lasting peace."

Excluded from the Alaska Summit, European leaders tried through a series of phone calls and emergency meetings before the summit to make their position known.

The French presidential palace said on Saturday that leaders of the UK, France, and Germany will hold a video conference on Sunday, convening so-called "voluntary alliances," to discuss how to move towards peace in Ukraine. The day after the meeting, on Monday, Zelenskyy will travel to Washington to meet with Trump.

EU leaders also proposed a tripartite summit between Zelenskyy, Putin, and Trump.

Professor Alberto Alemanno of the Paris School of International Affairs said: "For Ukraine and Europeans, it's good news that no agreement was reached."

He pointed out that there is a high risk of developing a "new European security framework" while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and European leaders are sidelined.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it has faced 18 rounds of EU sanctions, so it is unlikely to be ready to thaw its frozen relationship with the EU.

But Alemanno said that since the war began, European leaders have "never engaged with Putin."

"They suddenly had to do so, but they didn't know the specific conditions for engagement," he said, "so they were a bit overwhelmed."

Despite European leaders' commitments to increase defense spending and maintain support for Kyiv, they still severely lack the resources to resist Russia, which aims to conquer Ukraine.

On Saturday, Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen told Jyllands-Posten: "Every morning when I wake up, my first thought is that we must rearm ourselves faster."

Source: rfi

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840661037771785/

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