German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized US President Donald Trump’s exclusion of the EU from recent phone conversations with Moscow and Kyiv.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stressed the necessity of EU and Ukrainian involvement in any peace negotiations to end the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing a collective approach to peacemaking.
Following a 90-minute phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin—their first known conversation since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022—Trump announced that both leaders had agreed to initiate immediate negotiations to resolve the crisis. Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky later the same day. This direct engagement between Trump and Putin, without prior EU consultation, has reportedly upset EU officials.
In a Thursday interview, Baerbock criticized Trump’s team for failing to provide advance notice of the calls.
“Negotiations excluding Ukraine are unacceptable. European peace is at stake, necessitating European inclusion,” Baerbock stated.
“This is typical of the Trump administration’s operating style. Continuous communication with all parties is essential; this approach differs from previous administrations,” Baerbock noted. “This isn’t standard foreign policy practice, but it’s our current reality.”
On Wednesday, the Weimar+ group (France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, UK, European External Action Service, and European Commission) formally requested inclusion in the negotiations, declaring a lasting Ukrainian peace crucial for robust transatlantic security in a joint statement following a Paris meeting.
“We’ve consistently maintained that no decisions will be made on Ukraine without Ukraine’s participation,” Baerbock told reporters before the Weimar+ meeting. “Peace requires collective action, including Ukraine and European partners.”
The timing of negotiations remains unclear. While the Kremlin indicated readiness for talks following Trump and Putin’s call, it emphasized the need to address the conflict’s root causes. Moscow opposes Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, viewing it as a key factor in the 2022 escalation, and insists on Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.