Keith Kellogg, the U.S. government's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia issues, stated that European countries would not be included among the participants in negotiations regarding Ukraine. The European side immediately expressed opposition to this remark and plans to organize its own summit to discuss the Ukraine issue.

On the day, police were on guard outside the main venue of the Munich Security Conference in Germany. Photo by Gao Jing, Xinhua News Agency.

Kellogg was asked about the prospects of European involvement in negotiations on the Ukraine issue while attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany that day. He replied, "I belong to the school of realism. I don't think that will happen." Additionally, according to CNBC, Kellogg also stated that the U.S. does not want the negotiations to turn into a "large group discussion." However, Kellogg sought to reassure allies, saying that European interests would be taken into account during the negotiations.

After the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who advocates "America First," the rift between the United States and its European allies has become increasingly evident and widened over issues such as Ukraine. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin recently had a phone conversation, during which they planned to hold negotiations on the Ukraine issue. Reuters reported that European allies were shocked that Trump did not notify them in advance before speaking with Putin and agreeing to negotiations. They are concerned that the United States might reach an agreement with Russia that could be detrimental to European security without Europe's participation.

On [specific date], French President Emmanuel Macron (center) walks out of the Élysée Palace after a meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (right) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Photo by Henri Schwartz/Xinhua)

In response to Kellogg's remarks, Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated, "Discussions or negotiations regarding Ukraine's future or the European security architecture cannot take place without European participation." Multiple media outlets recently cited U.S. officials as reporting that senior American officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are scheduled to begin negotiations with Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia on the Ukraine issue in the coming days, while also preparing for a meeting between Putin and Trump. Rubio recently held a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss cooperation between the two countries on the Ukraine issue.

美国福克斯新闻频道报道，一名乌克兰政府高级官员透露，美方尚未通知和邀请乌方参加将在沙特举行的美俄谈判。另据俄罗斯卫星通讯社报道，乌克兰总统办公室顾问米哈伊洛波多利亚克说，乌方目前没有计划派代表参加美俄谈判，因为“现在没什么好谈的”。

Facing the "exclusion" from the U.S., European countries are urgently seeking countermeasures. Several European sources told Reuters that France is consulting with its European allies to hold an informal summit of European nations on the Ukraine issue. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a European summit in Paris.