Can Europe and the United Kingdom convince Trump that it is related to the future of Ukraine?

European leaders are scrambling. The security summit held in a hurry in Paris on Monday is evidence of this.

They are still reeling that the United States has not invited talks with Russia about the future of Ukraine. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet “very soon.”

Can Europe, under pressure, place local political differences and economic concerns aside, and reach a unified front in security spending and the future of Ukraine, including sending forces there – to force themselves on a place on the negotiating table?

They will try.

On Monday morning, UK Prime Minister Sir Kerr Starmer said that the United Kingdom was “ready and ready to place forces on the ground.” Even in Germany, before the hot elections, a CDU foreign policy spokesman said that he is expected to win the largest number of seats that the largest country in Europe will be ready to adhere to forces in the role of “peacekeeping”, with an international mandate.

It is clear that the Trump administration is not 100 % sure of what you want to do about Ukraine. There were a number of mixed messages during the weekend.

This allows Europe a small window of opportunities to try to persuade the American president, it is an invaluable partner.

She hopes to do this through this Paris meeting, as the ball revolves in two main issues required by Donald Trump: to spend Europe and do more for its defense, and that Europe send forces to Ukraine after the ceasefire.

European leaders insist that KYIV are directly participating in the ceasefire talks. They have long maintained the opinion that “there could be no decisions on Ukraine, without Ukraine.”

But it is more than that for Europe.

Cold perception – is largely horrific, but not completely unexpected – that the Trump administration does not give priority to relations either with European partners, or their defense.

Europe has relied on a security umbrella provided by the United States since World War II.

Depending on the standards of Russia and the United States talks to Ukraine, and how Putin feels famous for it, there is also a European fear that may end up changing the structure of their continents.

Putin historically hates the spread of NATO east. The Russian neighbors – the small Soviet Baltic states, and also and also Poland – feel especially exposed.

Not all European countries will be at the top of the Monday. Only those who have a military weight: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark – which are expected to represent the Baltic and Northern countries, as well as the President of the European Union Council and Secretary General of the Defense Alliance, NATO.

According to what was reported, other countries will be held at a later time, follow -up meetings.

Even in the small Paris gathering, it will be difficult, if not impossible, agreeing to increase tangible defensive spending. Poland plans to spend 4.47 % of its gross domestic product on the defense in 2025. The UK is struggling towards it, and has not yet reached, 2.5 % of GDP.

But leaders can pledge to coordinate better, and spend more within NATO and shoulder most of the rebuilding of Ukraine after the war. The European Union is expected to strengthen its defensive efforts as well.

A large part of the Paris meeting will also focus on the issue of sending forces to Ukraine after a ceasefire.

The idea that is discussed is not in favor of peacekeeping forces, but rather a “reassurance force”, is concentrated, and not on any ceasefire line in the end.

The goal of the presence of European forces will be three times. To send a message to the Ukrainians: they are not alone. Another message to the United States, to show that Europe is “forming” to defend its own continent, and the last message to Moscow, to warn that if the ceasefire conditions are broken, Kiev will not deal with it alone.

But it is a controversial concept and may not be common for voters. In Italy, for example, they do not want 50 % of people to send more weapons to Ukraine, do not mind sending sons, daughters, sisters and brothers there.

There are many questions that have not been answered yet:

How many forces will each European country have to send, for how long and under its leadership? What will be the statement of their mission – for example if Russia broke the conditions of the agreed ceasefire, does this mean that European soldiers will be in a direct war with Russia? Will the United States work on its back if so?

Europe wants an American security guarantee before the soldiers were deployed to Ukraine. You may not get one.

It is great to be determined on Monday. The leaders, including the UK Prime Minister, Kiir Starmer, come to Paris with their local fears – can they bear the costs of additional defense spending, do they have forces to send to Ukraine?

But this summit is a wide brush stroke. The conversation can start at least publicly.

Will Donald Trump notice?

It is difficult to know.

There is an talk about sending an envoy to Washington after the Paris meeting to make the issue of Europe. Prime Minister Italy, Georgia Miloni, is close to the Trump administration, for example.

Sir Kerr Starmer is a planned visit to Washington within a few days. This may be his opportunity to work as a bridge between Europe and the United States.

The Paris meeting also provides an opportunity for the United Kingdom and other European leaders to continue reforming relations after the bitterness of Britain’s exit from the European Union.

Mark Leonard, head of the European Council for Foreign Relations, notes that Starmer can “prove that Britain has interest in European security … something that will be observed and translated into goodwill when it comes to negotiations on other issues.”

Issues such as trade relations and law enforcement cooperation that the UK hopes to improve with the progress of the European Union.

The host nation France feels confident. President Macron has long called on Europe to be less dependent on the external countries of supply chains, technology capabilities, and so on when it comes to defense. Newspaper headlines were issued a year ago by picking up the idea of ​​forces on the ground in Ukraine.

Georgina Wright, Deputy Director of International Studies at the Monten Institute, says France is “very proud” that its intelligence and security services are not intertwined with the United States, unlike the United Kingdom. This makes it less complicated, after Trump has become in the White House, asking Europe to take care of itself.

The United States has sent a document to European allies consisting of six points and questions, such as countries that will be ready to deploy forces to Ukraine as part of the settlement of peace, which governments will be ready to increase sanctions on Russia to impose those existing.

But Julian Smith, until recently, the US ambassador to NATO, says this type of complex diplomatic work usually takes weeks of meetings and cannot be organized in full forms.

Whatever European leaders in Paris, she adds, if they use this to demand a seat at the negotiating table on Ukraine, their hands are weak.

“If Trump is flashing and said no, does Europe refuse to help completely?

Basically, if the United States is planning to stay away from Ukraine and Europe on a broader scale in terms of security, they will have to increase the defense game significantly.

If Donald Trump is not watching, Vladimir Putin is definitely.