European leaders plan emergency summit as US and Russia prepare for Ukraine peace talks – BBC.com

French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a meeting of European leaders on Monday to discuss the situation in Ukraine, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has confirmed.

He adds the summit shouldn’t be “over-dramatised”, saying these types of meetings happen regularly.

The meeting will include leaders from France, the UK, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain and Denmark, which would represent Baltic and Scandinavian countries, Reuters news agency reports.

About a quarter of Ukraine could be contaminated with landminespublished at 12:28 Greenwich Mean Time

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

There is no point talking about US access to Ukraine’s vast mineral wealth unless the problem of its unexploded landmines is also addressed.

That’s the warning from James Cowan, who heads UK-based landmine clearing charity the Halo Trust.

Speaking to the BBC on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the former British army Maj Gen says: “The problem in Ukraine is huge. The Ukrainians estimate 156,000 sq km (60,232 sq miles) are contaminated by landmines or other explosive munitions.”

“These mines are laid on the most productive farm land in Europe and are significantly damaging Ukraine’s economy,” he adds.

General Cowan has blamed Ukrainian state bureaucracy for delays in clearing the country of what he said were millions of unexploded landmines, concentrated in the war-torn east of the country.

About a quarter of Ukraine’s landmass is estimated to be contaminated with landmines.

Ukraine’s government is understood to have drawn up a draft deal that would give the US access to large mineral deposits including ‘rare earths’ such as Lithium. But President Zelensky is reported to have refused to sign off on it until, and unless, the US provides concrete security guarantees.

“The suggestion,” James Cowan says, “that there could be a US/Ukrainian deal that allows mining for minerals cannot happen without first demining affected areas”.

Rubio and Netanyahu have just commented on the security situation in the Middle East and the strong relationship between the two countries.

Here’s a look at the key lines from the conference:

• Netanyahu says US President Donald Trump is the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House and says the two nations share the same strategy for the future of Gaza
• He then turns his attention to global authorities, calling the UN General Assembly “anti-American and “anti-Israel” and accuses the International Criminal Court (ICC) of “outrageously libelling” Israel adding that like the US, his country does not accept the authority of the court

• Rubio says Iran is the “single greatest source of instability”, adding it can never be allowed to own nuclear weapons
• He also says Hamas has to be “eliminated” and urges the Lebanese army to disband Hezbollah

The news conference has now ended. Rubio did not comment on US plans for Ukraine and, as a reminder, he is heading to Saudi Arabia in coming days for peace talks with Russia.

We’re about to hear from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who is in Jerusalem after attending the Munich Security Conference.

He has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the two of them are about to give a news conference.

Stay with us as we bring you key lines.

Poland’s foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, has said the US has shared with him their plans for Ukraine, describing the tactics as “unorthodox”.

Sikorski revealed that US envoy to Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, came up to him personally.

“General Kellogg has presented to me personally and to the circle of European allies, the United States’ negotiating tactics.”

Sikorski did not share any further details with reporters saying: “I will not reveal them here. They raise some hopes. They are unorthodox, but we wish them luck.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called yesterday for the creation of an “army of Europe” amid rising concerns the US may no longer come to the continent’s aid.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, he said US Vice-President JD Vance’s speech at the event had made it clear that the old relationship between Europe and America was “ending” and the continent “needs to adjust to that”.

But Zelensky also said Ukraine would “never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement” after Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to start peace talks.

European leaders from across the continent have come to Ukraine’s defence over the last few days, firmly stating that no peace talks could take place without Ukraine – or without Europe’s involvement.

Earlier this week US President Donald Trump announced he had a lengthy phone conversation with the Russian leader and added that negotiations to stop the “ridiculous war” in Ukraine would begin “immediately”.

Trump then “informed” Zelensky of his plan.

Luke Mintz
Broadcasting House reporter

The US should not exclude Ukrainian and European governments from its peace talks with Russia, the German ambassador to the UK says.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme on Sunday morning, Miguel Berger says recent events show Germany was “mistaken” to cut defence spending after the Cold War.

On the peace talks, Berger says: “The feeling is that the US has given away too many points like no Nato membership, no US boots on the ground in Ukraine – things that would have been an essential part of negotiations.”

“We need to have a joint plan,” he says, adding Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky called for just that. “We can’t go into negotiations without having a joint Ukrainian – European – US plan on what we will ask from Russia in order to achieve a peace agreement.”

“It was in 2007 that President Putin gave a speech, where he made clear that he’s changing course,” Berger says, reflecting on earlier Munich Security Conferences, before adding “we should have started earlier to invest more in our own defence”.

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

There are two sharply differing viewpoints here at this security event.

One is the long-held Nato mantra that the West needs to continue to sustain Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion “for as long as it takes”.

This viewpoint holds that – due to sanctions and the war – Russia’s economy is in dire trouble and that if Ukraine can only hold on for a few more months then Russia’s offensive will run out of steam and Ukraine will be in a stronger position to negotiate than it is today.

The other viewpoint is that that’s all changed. The Trump administration hasn’t got the time or the patience for that, it wants this war to wrap up now and it’s moving ahead fast with its eyes on a deal with Putin.

Europe and Ukraine are scrambling to catch up with this new and unwelcome reality, hence the flurry of meetings and a planned European summit.

But the indications are that this White House is determined to conclude a deal with Moscow, over the protests of Ukraine and its European allies, even at the risk it’s seen to reward Vladimir Putin for invading a sovereign European nation.

As we’ve been reporting, the US is sending a delegation to Saudi Arabia for talks with Russia aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Here are some more details on what we know so far:

• Senior White House figures, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, plan to meet Russian negotiators in the coming days
• US officials said that Ukraine was also invited – although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says his country has received no such invitation.
• US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, will also attend
• US special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg said Washington, Moscow and Kyiv would also be involved in talks, but Europe was not invited
• Rubio spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, where he reaffirmed Trump’s “commitment to finding an end to the conflict in Ukraine”, according to a state department spokesperson

Harry Farley
Political correspondent

A US delegation is heading to Saudi Arabia for talks with Russia, aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, US officials say.

There has been concern that Europe and the UK could be side lined in these talks. It’s that fear that has led to this hastily arranged summit tomorrow in Paris.

The meeting will be convened by French President Emmanuel Macron. Sir Keir Starmer, who earlier said this was “a once in a generation moment for our national security”, will also attend.

No 10 sources told the BBC last night that they think the UK is well-placed to try and be that bridge between the US and some of the European leaders who have been criticising President Donald Trump in last few days.

The question that immediately arises, however, is what this all means for the UK and UK defence spending. Remember, Labour promised to set out a path to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence. But there is no immediate timescale for when that will happen, and military chiefs in last few days said UK must go further than 2.5%.

Yesterday, the former head of the Army Lord Dannatt told the BBC that the UK military is “so run down” it could not lead any future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. He warned a failure to raise defence spending significantly will “consign Keir Starmer to the bin of history.”

Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel is next up, speaking to Victoria Derbyshire down the line from Munich.

Patel disagrees with the suggestions that UK involvement in negotiations is now irrelevant, saying that on the contrary, the UK’s position on the Ukraine conflict and its involvement is “widely respected” at the conference.

Derbyshire then also puts it to Patel that it sounds like Europe is being locked out of the upcoming talks and suggests Europe has failed Ukraine.

Patel disagrees, adding Nato allies and European countries have lent strong support to Ukraine. She says there’s widescale recognition that European allies have provided a lot in terms of military, financial and humanitarian aid.

“We all have to recognise that this is about Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty”, she says, and about making sure Ukrainians should be the ones determining their future.

Asked what the UK prime minister should do, she says there needs to be a step up on defence spending and that it has to be the priority, adding the UK “should be at the table and working with US allies”.

Asked if the UK has troop numbers to support Ukraine if it comes to a peace-keeping mission with boots on the ground, Reynolds admits it would be a massive ask.

He says “we shouldn’t downplay” the abilities of the armed forces but says there’s a lot more to do.

Reynolds also insists the UK is committed to increased defence spending and meeting the 2.5% of GDP target.

Pressed on the “roadmap” planned for defence spending, Reynolds says a spending review is underway, and that there had been a substantial increase in the last budget.

He adds it’s not unreasonable for the US to expect Europe to increase defence spending.

Victoria Derbyshire, who as a reminder is filling in for Laura Kuenssberg this week, says she’s trying to understand what appears to be the new world order and observes that the Europeans and Ukrainians don’t appear to be at the table for negotiations.

Reynolds says US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that everything is on the table, but stresses that for a peace settlement to be durable, it has to involve Europe.

“Ultimately the president is someone who likes to win, and winning would not be rewarding a war of aggression,” he says

When asked specifically about remarks Hegseth made about Ukraine not being in Nato, Reynolds says “again he has also said he is not ruling anything out,” adding that peace requires a guarantee of that peace settlement.

“We will all have to play a part in it,” Reynolds says.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has just been asked on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg how Europe should respond to the United States’ plans to exclude the continent from Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

Reynolds starts by saying he welcomes the fact US President Donald Trump wants to see an end to the conflict.

This is also the view of the UK, he adds, saying he accepts the US president’s request to see Europe play a bigger part in securing the continent.

Reynolds says there is more common ground than not and adds that the UK also wants to see a durable peace plan. The UK will make sure “we are strengthening that relationship between the US and Europe”, he says.

The business secretary also says there can be “no durable peace” without the involvement of Ukraine and European nations in negotiations.

Frank Gardner
Reporting from the Munich Security Conference

On this final day of the Munich Security Conference confusion and uncertainty still cloud the issue of how President Trump plans to end the Ukraine war.

European leaders worry that this is a train that’s leaving without them.

They are due to hold an emergency summit next week, just as US and Russian negotiators begin talks in Saudi Arabia, that apparently will not include Ukraine.

This year’s Munich conference will be remembered for the week that America told Europe: everything’s changed, you can no longer take it for granted that we will be there to defend you.

European nations are now under pressure to raise their defence spending to at least three per cent of their national wealth as they brace for the likelihood Russia will use a ceasefire in Ukraine to rebuild its huge army on Nato’s eastern flank.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has issued a statement following US plans to hold Ukraine peace talks with Russia – without Europe.

Starmer says the talks will offer “a once in a generation moment for our national security”.

He adds: “It’s clear Europe must take on a greater role in Nato as we work with the United States to secure Ukraine’s future and face down the threat we face from Russia.”

His comments come following US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, saying European leaders would be consulted but not take part in any talks between US and Russia over ending the war.

Kellogg told the Munich Security Conference that previous efforts at negotiation had failed because too many parties were involved.

Barbara Tasch
Live reporter

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the last day of the Munich Security Conference.

As leaders gather for one last day of panels and conferences on matters of defence, European leaders are waking up to the fact that their relationship with the US has now changed.

We’ll shortly be hearing from UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who will address issues surrounding Ukraine and the UK steel industry on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

We’re also expecting to hear from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later this morning, who is now in Jerusalem ahead of talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia in the coming days.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest lines and analyses from our correspondents.