Europeans warn US against Ukraine deal 'behind our backs'

European leaders on Thursday warned the United States against striking a peace deal with Russia over Ukraine without their involvement, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The news sent shockwaves across European capitals, as leaders sought to ensure a seat at the table. “Any deal behind our backs will not work,” said European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. “Any agreement will need also Ukraine and Europe being part of it.”

Kallas accused the U.S. of preemptively conceding to Russia. “It’s appeasement. It has never worked,” she said before a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels with Ukraine’s representative.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared it was unrealistic for Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders, indicating NATO membership for Ukraine would not be part of a deal. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also criticized Washington for making concessions before negotiations began, and French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu warned against “peace through weakness.”

Despite the backlash, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban praised Trump, saying, “You can’t request a seat at the negotiating table. You have to earn it!”

Trump said he held a "highly productive" call with Putin and agreed to start negotiations immediately. Hours later, he briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the discussion.

Later, European foreign ministers from Britain, France, and Germany issued a joint statement demanding a role in future talks. European leaders emphasized their importance in providing security guarantees for any deal, which could involve deploying European troops to Ukraine.

“There is no option to not be at the table,” said Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans. “We are critical to implementing those security guarantees.”