EUROPEAN LEADERS gathered at the Elysée Palace on February 17th under bright sunshine but with a heavy atmosphere. They were still processing the implications of the weekend’s statement from officials within Donald Trump’s administration, which declared that Europeans were unwelcome at peace discussions between the United States and Russia regarding Ukraine. The defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, emphasized that “stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe.” In anticipation of the urgent meeting, Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of Britain, labeled it a “generational challenge” for the continent.
