NATO allies want Ukraine, Europe in peace talks, while Trump talks up Putin

Several NATO allies stressed on 13 February, Thursday, that Ukraine and Europe must not be cut out of any peace negotiations, after US president Donald Trump signalled that he would hold talks soon with Russian president Vladimir Putin.

“Let's not forget, Russia remains a threat well beyond Ukraine,” UK defence secretary John Healey said after the United States rattled NATO by saying that Ukraine should never join the alliance and that European allies should take responsibility for Ukraine's security going forward.

“There can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine. And Ukraine's voice must be at the heart of any talks,” Healey told reporters at NATO headquarters, as the organisation's 32 defence ministers met for talks on Ukraine.

Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson said European nations provided about 60 per cent of the military support to Ukraine last year and must be involved, especially given US demands that Europe take more responsibility for Ukraine's security in the longer term.

“It's very natural that we're engaged into the discussions,” Jonson said.

His Estonian counterpart, Hanno Pevkur, underlined that the European Union has driven sanctions against Russia, has invested heavily in Ukraine's defence and, yes, will be asked to foot the bill for rebuilding the war-ravaged country.

“We have to be there. So there is no question about it. Otherwise this peace will not be long lasting,” Pevkur warned.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth told Ukraine's Western backers on Wednesday that NATO membership for Ukraine was unrealistic.

He suggested Kyiv should abandon hopes of winning all its territory back from Russia and instead prepare for a negotiated peace settlement to be backed up by international troops.

After talks with Putin and then Zelenskyy, Trump said on Wednesday he would “probably” meet in person with the Russian leader soon and suggested that the meeting could happen in Saudi Arabia.