European leaders are rushing to us to help Ukraine avoid “capitulation”

European leaders may have rushed to Washington to throw a protective hand around President Zelenski and to leave every repetition of the Oval Office in February.

But their real goal is to stop US President Donald Trump, threatening long-term European security after his sudden change in the course on how best to end the war in Ukraine.

Not only did Trump refuse a call for the end of fire as a prerequisite for conversations about long -term peace, but diplomats also said he did not intend to impose more economic sanctions on Russia.

In short, traveling European government leaders – plus EU and NATO leaders – want to avoid not only confrontation but also capitulation.

President Macron of France was the most, who uses the word C, saying on Sunday: “There is only one country that offers peace that would be capitulation: Russia.”

It takes a lot for government leaders to settle their schedules in the short term – especially in August – when some are on vacation.

The French leader was enjoying the Riviera water sports. Italian leader Georgia Meloni was in Greece.

But that was the scale of changing President Trump’s strategy after meeting with President Putin – and the subsequent potential threat to Europe – that European leaders changed their plans quickly.

Officials say that Meloni first invited herself, followed by Macron closely, after which it became inevitable and others would have to go.

The leaders spent the weekend working on the phones, holding no less than five separate group chats.

Their anxiety was Trump’s decision to change diplomatic goals After meeting the Russian leader in Alaska.

Some employees believe that the huge impact of these two decisions-which has been canceled for months of Western strategy-not enough price. Both moves have displaced the US position more in favor of Russia.

“Things moved very and quite quickly to a schedule that no one expected,” a European employee said.

“The United States see this as a moment to hit while the iron is hot. Our question is what are we trying to achieve here?”

They added: “The European position has long been that Putin must show a real desire to bypass a mass and stop the war, and this would include a cessation of fire. But since Friday we have gone from it. The question now is how we can get out of today without explosion. This is a moment of extreme danger.”

The goal of European leaders, diplomats say, is to displace the White House’s thinking on two questions.

One, the idea that peace can be achieved simply from Ukraine by carrying Donbass to Russia. And two that this is not just for the future of Ukraine.

“This is essentially about the security of our continent,” said a British diplomat.

In other words, any discussion on security guarantees – as part of the final transaction – would be to guarantee the wider security of Europe, not just Ukraine.

This means convincing Trump of two things: one that questions about the territory and security guarantees cannot be separated and two, that security guarantees must be about more than verbal or text promises.

US negotiators have said that they give Ukraine as still defined NATO -style assurances that the West will turn to Kiev’s help against future Russian aggression.

“No one is clear what Trump means a security guarantee,” an employee said.

“He believes he just tells Putin” doesn’t attack “is enough. It’s not good enough for Ukraine or us.”

Instead, Europeans are expected to claim that Ukraine’s security will only be guaranteed by allowing his army to remain strong, with long -term and significant military and financial support.

This will include American weapons purchased by Europeans and gifted to Ukraine, plus prolonged Ukrainian access to US intelligence.

By definition, everything that would exclude the Russian demands for the demilitarization of Ukraine.

The risk for Europeans today is that they are pushing Trump too hard, that he thinks he is harassed and that meetings are going badly.

The European delegation was thrown together at the last moment.

This is – an employee said – “quite incredible”, and some differ in how much Europe should engage in the future security of Ukraine.

What role can the future European power, based in Europe, in the post -conflict Ukraine remains unclear.

So the European goal today can be a delay in things and to calm down feverish talk about land deals, which should really be part of the final negotiation game.

For some, this will be to put the cart in front of the horse.

Instead, European leaders may seek progress as a possible tripartite summit with Trump, Zelenski and Putin; the carving of some broad principles of any future transaction; And how to talk about conversations that decide the location and framework of any negotiations.

And most of all, whether this can only happen when there is a sorting of fire.