Europe talks up more defence spending as Ukraine peacekeeper plan divides

(Reuters)

PARIS/RIYADH, Feb 17- European leaders meeting in Paris for emergency talks on Monday called for higher spending to ramp up the continent’s defence capabilities but remained split on the idea of deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine to back up any peace deal.

The leaders also agreed it would be dangerous to conclude a Ukraine ceasefire without a peace agreement at the same time, and that they were ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine “depending on the level of American support,” a European official said.

“We agree with President Trump on a “peace through strength” approach,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Paris meeting was called by French President Emmanuel Macron after U.S. President Donald Trump arranged bilateral peace talks with Russia, excluding European allies and Ukraine from negotiations to end the war that are scheduled to begin in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Macron spoke with Trump ahead of the meetings, officials from both countries said on Monday. A White House official called it “a friendly call” in which they talked about the Paris meeting and the talks in Saudi Arabia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also said he had a “long” call with Macron on security guarantees.

“We share a common vision: security guarantees must be robust and reliable,” Zelenskiy said on X, adding: “Any other decision without such guarantees — such as a fragile ceasefire — would only serve as another deception by Russia and a prelude to a new Russian war against Ukraine or other European nations.”

Trump stunned Ukraine and European allies last week when he announced he had called Russian President Vladimir Putin, long ostracised by the West, to discuss ending the war without consulting them, and they must now confront the reality of a future with less U.S. protection.

The U.S. decision has sparked a realisation among European nations that they will have to do more to ensure Ukraine’s security.