European leaders have convened in Paris for a critical day of meetings with US officials, with the focus firmly on securing support for Ukraine at a perilous geopolitical moment.
A Summit Overshadowed by Unforeseen Crisis
The gathering, which includes the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Denmark, and Canada, was arranged last week. Its primary goal was to coordinate aid for Ukraine following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's year-end discussions with US President Donald Trump, aimed at negotiating peace.
However, the geopolitical landscape shifted dramatically after the United States launched an attack on Venezuela and abducted its leader. This move, a clear violation of international law, has upended strategic calculations and created a stark new reality for the NATO democracies in the room.
Navigating a Dual Threat: Russia and an Unpredictable US
The American action in Venezuela is seen to have emboldened states like Russia. More immediately, European capitals are now directly contending with the active threat from President Trump to seize territory, specifically mentioning Denmark's Greenland.
This places leaders, particularly from Denmark and Canada, in an acutely difficult position. Despite the US's breach of international norms, most European leaders have stopped short of outright condemnation, wary of the high stakes involved in their relationship with Washington.
The Precarious Push for Ukrainian Security Guarantees
The core objective of today's Paris meeting remains unchanged: to persuade the Trump administration to underwrite security guarantees for Ukraine. Yet this mission is now infinitely more complex.
European diplomats are attempting to secure commitments from a US president who is actively flouting the rules-based international order. The threat from the US feels closer and more tangible for nations like Denmark, even as they seek American backing to counter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe.
The summit represents a fragile attempt to steady the alliance and support Kyiv, while navigating an unprecedented crisis of confidence triggered by Washington's own actions.
