Tusk: Europe Will Not Accept a Security Deal Dictated by the US or Russia

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday in Dublin, at the European Political Community summit (a broad forum of European countries), that Europe will not allow others to set new security rules on the continent unilaterally. His remarks came as the United States and Russia discuss a possible security arrangement and the future course of Ukraine peace talks.

"Under no circumstances will we allow anyone in this part of the world to set new security rules without taking us into account, without taking Poland and Europe into account," Tusk said. He added that a new security architecture would not be built simply because the Russian president or someone in the US wants it, and that this was not up for discussion.

What Axios reports

The US outlet Axios, citing two sources familiar with the matter, reported that President Donald Trump's administration has asked Russia to submit proposals for a future security agreement with Europe. According to the outlet, Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff asked Moscow during trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi earlier this week to set out its security demands and suggest measures to ease tensions with Europe. Trump said last week he is working on a "big, wonderful deal" that could involve all of Europe, but did not elaborate.

European participation in peace talks

On Thursday, after meeting Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Witkoff told Russian state television that the Russian leader had agreed to let Europeans take part in the next round of Ukraine peace talks. He called it a very important moment. If it happens, it would be the first time European representatives join the US-brokered talks since Trump returned to the White House last year and launched his diplomatic initiative. The Kremlin, however, said today that it has not yet agreed to European participation in talks with Ukraine.

Tusk said he sees a united European position: any peace deal must ensure Ukraine keeps its sovereignty and that the security architecture in Eastern Europe remains unchanged. He said he sees no internal disagreements among EU countries, but acknowledged that Washington's diplomatic goals might not fully match Europe's hopes.