France, Germany, and the United Kingdom want to sit down at the negotiating table
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are working on their own format for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. European diplomats fear that the Donald Trump administration may sideline them from the process that will shape the future peace agreement.
Paris, Berlin, and London are trying to agree on a common position. Their goal is to ensure that European countries are included in any future negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
European diplomats believe that the issue of ending the war is too important for their countries to rely entirely on Washington’s decisions. “The three European countries are concerned that President Trump will exclude them from any negotiations to end the Russian-Ukrainian war and are working together to secure Europe a seat at the negotiating table,” sources told the NYT.
This refers to the so-called E3 format—the cooperation between France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. These three countries are currently playing a leading role in the effort to develop a common European approach.
Paris and Berlin are leading the effort
According to the NYT, France and Germany are the most active on this issue. London is also participating in the consultations. At the same time, the British side is proceeding more cautiously due to the importance of its relations with Washington.
European officials fear that the U.S. might unilaterally determine the key terms of a future agreement with Russia. In that case, European countries could be presented with fait accompli decisions that would directly affect their security. That is precisely why diplomats from the three countries are seeking a format that will allow Europe to actively participate in the negotiations.
Why This Is So Important for Europe
European countries view Russia’s war against Ukraine not merely as a conflict on the territory of a neighboring state. For them, the outcome of the war is directly linked to the security of the continent itself. If Russia secures favorable terms after the war, this could affect the entire European security system. “The stakes are extremely high for Europe. The war in Ukraine is a serious security issue, and a Russian victory there would have enormous consequences,” the article states.
Therefore, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom believe they must play a prominent role in the negotiation process and support Ukraine during any potential agreements.
The U.S. will still remain a key player
Despite their desire to strengthen their own role, European countries understand that they cannot completely bypass Washington. As sources told the NYT, any negotiations with Moscow will likely take place with U.S. participation or mediation.
Therefore, Europe is not trying to replace the United States. Rather, the goal is to ensure that Washington does not negotiate with Russia about Ukraine’s future without the participation of European partners. Europeans want to guarantee that a peace agreement will take into account not only the interests of the U.S. and Russia, but also the security needs of Europe and Ukraine themselves.
What Will the New Format Look Like?
So far, there are no specific details regarding the proposed format. Diplomats from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are merely exploring possible options for European countries’ participation in future negotiations. Exactly what this model will look like and who else might join it has not yet been disclosed.
At the same time, the very fact that such consultations are taking place indicates that European capitals are preparing for a possible new phase of diplomacy regarding the war in Ukraine. For Paris, Berlin, and London, the main issue now is to prevent a situation in which a decision to end the war is made without Europe, even though the consequences of such an agreement would directly affect its security. The New York Times (NYT) reports this, citing European officials.
In December 2025, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin held a secret meeting with intelligence agencies and military officials, during which he allegedly set a goal for 2026—to weaken and divide NATO and the European Union from within.
