There is a shared interest in achieving peace in Ukraine, as President Trump emphasized the importance of a negotiated settlement to end the conflict. On the other hand, Belgium's Defense Minister, Theo Francken, voiced his concerns regarding the peace plan outlined by the United States, considering it a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin and a disadvantage for the West.
Francken pointed out that Putin has always expressed his opposition to Ukraine's NATO membership and to ceding any gained territory. In contrast, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Spain, and Poland emphasized in Paris the importance of considering the Ukrainians in the search for peace, as the Russian aggression in Ukraine affects European security.
In this context, Donald Trump mentioned that his first in-person meeting with Vladimir Putin will likely take place in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the importance of direct dialogue. Moreover, the U.S. president claimed to have reached an agreement with Putin to start negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin indicated that both leaders discussed the solution to the war in Ukraine and the exchange of prisoners, agreeing on the possibility of reaching a long-term solution through peace negotiations. Conversely, in Brussels, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled his country's initiatives to end the war in Ukraine as a betrayal of Kiev.
