Can Europe present a united front for the future of Ukraine?

European leaders roll. Their quickly convened meeting at the Paris security summit on Monday is proof of this.

They are still trying not to be invited by the United States to talk to Russia about the future of Ukraine. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin “Soon”.

Can Europe, under pressure, can put aside political differences and internal economic problems and come up with a united front on the cost of security and for the future of Ukraine, including the potential sending of troops there – to force their place to the negotiating table?

They will try.

The Trump administration is obviously not 100% sure what he wants to do for Ukraine. There were a number of mixed messages over the weekend.

This allows Europe a small window of opportunities to try to convince the US president that it is an invaluable partner.

He hopes to do this through this meeting in Paris, with the ball rolling two basic questions required by Donald Trump: that Europe spends and makes more about its own defense and that Europe sends troops to Ukraine after the fire is terminated.

Europe leaders also insist that Kyiv be directly involved in the negotiations for the termination of fire. They have long maintained that “there can be no solutions for Ukraine, without Ukraine.”

But it's even more than Europe.

It is the cold realization – very terrible, but not completely unexpected – the Trump administration does not prioritize relationships with either European partners or their protection.

Europe relies on a security umbrella provided by the United States after World War II.

Depending on the parameters of Russia-the sustain talk about Ukraine and how fortified Putin feels from them, there is also a European fear that this can change the architecture of their continent.

Putin is a historic resentment for the spread of NATO to the east. Russian neighbors – the tiny, former Soviet Baltic countries, and also Poland – are now feeling particularly exposed.

Not all European countries will be at the summit on Monday. Only those with a military offer: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark – which is expected to represent the Baltic and Scandinavian nations, plus the chairman of the EU Council and the Secretary General of the Alliance for Defense, NATO.

Other countries are reported to have subsequent meetings.

Even small collection in Paris will be difficult, if not impossible, to agree with specific increases in defense costs. Poland plans to spend 4.47% of its GDP defense in 2025. The United Kingdom is fighting and has not yet reached 2.5% of its GDP.

But leaders can promise to coordinate better, spend more in NATO and raise most of Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. The EU is also expected to strengthen its defensive efforts.

Much of the meeting in Paris will also focus on the question of sending troops to Ukraine after the fire is terminated.

The idea that is being discussed is not for peacekeeping troops, but rather a “power of reassurance”, located behind, and not on any possible line to end the fire.

The purpose of the presence of European troops would be three times. To send a message to the Ukrainians: that they are not alone. Another message to the United States to show that Europe “makes its own life” to protect its own continent and the last message to Moscow, to warn that if it violates the conditions of possible fire, it will not cope with Kiev alone.

But this is a controversial concept and may not be popular with voters. For example, in Italy, 50% of people who asked do not want to send more weapons to Ukraine, no matter how to send sons and daughters, sisters and brothers there.

There are so many questions that still unanswered:

How many troops should each European country send, for how long and under whose command? What would be the statement of their mission – for example, if Russia violated the terms of a negotiated termination of fire, does it mean that European soldiers would be directly at war with Russia? Will the US have, if so?

Europe would like a US security guarantee before setting up soldiers in Ukraine. He may not get one.

It's too much to decide on Monday. And leaders, including the United Kingdom Prime Minister Keyer Starmer, come to Paris with their own internal problems – can they afford additional defense costs, do troops send to Ukraine? Germany is nervous from making specific commitments just before the heated general election.

But this summit is a broader brush than a fine print. The conversation can at least start publicly.

Will Donald Trump pay attention?

It's hard to know.

There is talk of sending a messenger to Washington after a meeting in Paris to make the case for Europe. The Italian Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni, is close to the Trump administration, for example.

Sir Kiir Starmer has a scheduled visit to Washington in a few days. This can be his chance to act as a bridge between Europe and the US.

The meeting in Paris also offers the opportunity for the United Kingdom and other European leaders to repair more relations after Brexit bitterness.

Mark Leonard, head of the European Council on Foreign Relations, notes that Starmer can “demonstrate that the UK is a responsible participant for European security … something that will be noticed and will become a goodwill when it comes to Negotiations on other issues. “

Questions such as commercial relations and law enforcement cooperation that the United Kingdom hopes to improve as the EU progresses forward.

The household nation France feels confident. President Macron has long been advocated that Europe is less relying on outside countries for supply chains, technological capabilities and many when it comes to protection. He made the titles a year ago, first reconciling the idea of ​​troops on Earth in Ukraine.

France is “cruel proud” that its intelligence and security are not intertwined with the United States, unlike the United Kingdom, says Georgina Wright, deputy director of international research at the Montein Institute. This makes it less complicated to unravel, now that Trump is in the White House, requiring Europe to take care of itself.

The United States sent a document to European allies consisting of six points and questions, such as which countries would be ready to unleash troops in Ukraine as part of a peace agreement and which governments would be ready to increase sanctions against Russia, including more strictly strictly strictly Application of existing ones.

But Julian Smith, until recently, the US ambassador to NATO, says that this type of complex diplomatic work usually takes weeks and cannot be organized through completed forms.

She adds that whatever European leaders in Paris are, if they use this to ask for a negotiation table for Ukraine, their hand is weak.

“If Trump blinks and says no, does it refuse Europe to help completely? They can't cut their nose to get into their face.”

In essence, if the United States plans to deviate from Ukraine and Europe more widespread in terms of security, they will have to significantly increase their defense game anyway.

If Donald Trump does not look, Vladimir Putin is for sure.