EU concerned over possible direct talks between Trump and Putin

The European Union expresses concern over the possibility of direct negotiations beginning between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on the issue of Ukraine, excluding European countries from the process. This is reported by Euractiv.

In the view of European diplomats, such a scenario places the EU in a secondary role, raising doubts about Europe's ability to influence key decisions.

Although no formalised negotiation format currently exists, the situation may change following the meeting of EU foreign ministers scheduled for 27 January. This summit will be the first since Donald Trump's inauguration.

Mari Dumoulin, director of the 'Big Europe' programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), emphasised that EU participation in any future negotiations is crucial. The European Union is not only a major provider of financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine but also a key coordinator of international efforts in this regard.

However, she noted that expanding the negotiation process by involving countries such as China, India or Brazil could lead to less favourable outcomes for Ukraine. This prompts European leaders to consider the need to strengthen their positions on the world stage to avoid a potential weakening of influence.

Overall, the European Union is concerned that exclusion from key negotiations could negatively affect not only its role in resolving the conflict but also the region's strategic interests.