PARIS, Feb 16, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - France's President Emmanuel Macron will host 
envoys from key European countries on Monday to discuss security on the 
continent as the Ukraine war nears its third anniversary, Foreign Minister 
Jean-Noel Barrot said.

"The president will bring together the main European countries tomorrow for 
discussions on European security," Barrot told the France Inter radio 
broadcaster on Sunday, without saying which nations would participate.

US President Donald Trump blindsided Ukraine and its European backers this 
week by launching talks on ending the invasion in a call with Russia's 
Vladimir Putin.

The new US administration has also warned its NATO allies that Washington 
will no longer be primarily focused on the continent's security and may have 
to shift forces elsewhere to focus on China.

The Kremlin has pushed for negotiations -- set to kick off in Saudi Arabia in 
coming days -- to discuss not just Ukraine but also broader European 
security.

That has sparked fears among Washington's allies that Putin could return to 
demands he floated prior to the 2022 invasion aimed at limiting NATO's forces 
in eastern Europe and US involvement on the continent.