EU ministers convene for urgent meeting following US official’s controversial statements

European Union foreign ministers convened an emergency meeting on February 16 in Munich, following recent remarks made by US Special Representative Keith Kellogg at the Munich Security Conference.

The meeting will assess reports from both US and Ukrainian officials, Caliber.Az reports via Ukrainian media.

Kaja Kallas, the head of European diplomacy, confirmed the urgent gathering, which was called to address concerns raised by Kellogg’s comments.

At the conference, Kellogg suggested that he does not foresee a role for Europe in physical negotiations regarding Ukraine. He emphasized, however, that the interests of European countries would still be taken into account. His remarks sparked significant backlash among EU officials, including European Council President António Costa.

Costa voiced his opposition to Kellogg's statement, asserting that "there can be no credible negotiations, no sustainable peace without Ukraine and the EU."

In response to Kellogg’s comments, French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a European summit in Paris next week to discuss the matter. The summit is expected to address the implications of the US position and reaffirm Europe’s role in Ukraine negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy added his voice to the growing criticism, stating that Ukraine should have the authority to determine who attends the peace talks. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also weighed in, declaring that Europe must "win its place at the table by being relevant in terms of costs and 'good proposals.'"

By Vafa Guliyeva