Putin Signals US-Russia Trust Needed Before Europe Joins Ukraine Peace Talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Europe’s participation in Ukraine peace talks will be necessary but only after Moscow builds trust with Washington. Marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, he noted that discussions with the U.S., including a recent call with Donald Trump and talks in Riyadh, touched on resolving the conflict but lacked detail.

Putin emphasized that the first step should focus on strengthening U.S.-Russia trust, questioning Europe's role at this stage. However, he acknowledged that once negotiations progress toward a settlement, European nations would logically be involved. Ukraine and its European allies had objected to being excluded from the initial U.S.-Russia talks.

Trump, who suggested the war could end within weeks, was praised by Putin for a rational, pragmatic approach, unbound by prior commitments to Ukraine. Some experts, including Michael Froman of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, warned against sidelining European partners, emphasizing their role in Ukraine’s financial and economic stability.

Putin also expressed openness to cutting military spending by 50% if the U.S. agreed, even suggesting China might later join such an initiative. He dismissed claims that Trump’s stance on Ukraine stemmed from emotion, stating that the former U.S. president operates with fewer constraints than European leaders.

With upcoming rounds of talks set to focus on trust-building, the timing of Europe’s official involvement remains uncertain.