European Countries Push Back Against Trump's Envisioned "Very Big" Deal With Russia

European countries are objecting to US attempts to rework the continent's security architecture as part of a possible deal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The objections came on 6 November, after US President Donald Trump met a envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the White House and predicted a "very big" agreement with Russia. According to Trump, it would cover not only the war in Ukraine but "all of Europe".

Security guarantees and talks

Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner said US representatives had discussed security guarantees for Ukraine and the wider European security architecture in Brussels. The discussions were held in preparation for Russia–Ukraine talks expected next week.

Reaction from European officials

Kaja Kallas, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, told reporters in Warsaw that Europe already has a security architecture. In her words, the problem is that Russia keeps violating the treaties on which that architecture rests. Kallas stressed that NATO posed no threat to Russia in 2021 or now. She also said any peace agreement on Ukraine will require the participation of the EU.

Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that deals on the future of Ukraine and Europe reached behind Europe's back would be not only unjustified but simply impossible.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Moscow cannot serve as a guarantee of security on the European continent. He noted that the discussion should focus on how to defend against Russia, not on negotiating spheres of influence in Europe with the Russians.