Several European nations doubt whether Germany and France can properly represent their interests in potential negotiation talks over the conflict in Ukraine, according to diplomatic sources.
The misgivings were disclosed by three European officials speaking to The New York Times. Smaller European states, particularly those bordering Russia and Ukraine such as the Baltic nations and Hungary, do not fully trust Paris and Berlin to safeguard their security interests during potential settlement discussions.
In response to shifting geopolitical dynamics, officials in Paris, Berlin and London are actively developing an alternative negotiation plan. European governments harbor deep fears that United States President Donald Trump could exclude European nations from the negotiation process if Washington moves forward with unilateral peace efforts.
European concerns over representation
Germany and France have long held central leadership roles within the European Union, frequently steering diplomatic responses to European security crises. However, smaller member states on NATO's eastern border, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, have expressed growing skepticism toward Western European diplomacy, advocating instead for strict security guarantees and equal representation in any peace talks concerning regional stability.
Hungary, which shares a direct land border with Ukraine, has similarly maintained reservations about major Western European powers negotiating on behalf of smaller regional neighbors. The anxiety across Eastern Europe reflects broader concerns that key security decisions might be made without the direct input of nations most exposed to the consequences of the conflict.
Russian stance on negotiations
The report of European nervousness follows recent clarifications from Moscow regarding its diplomatic communications with Western Europe. Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently denied assertions that official settlement talks had taken place between Russian and German government representatives.
However, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin acknowledged that informal exchanges remain active. Galuzin pointed out that representatives from public groups in Moscow and Berlin continue to maintain non-governmental contacts, providing a secondary line of communication between Russia and Germany while formal diplomatic talks remain absent.
