During a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference, support for Ukraine was a key focus, highlighting the absence of Europe from negotiations concerning a potential ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized this absence as a significant oversight. EU's foreign minister, Kaja Kallas, expressed concern that Russia is seeking to achieve through negotiations what it cannot attain militarily, while relying on the U.S. to deliver favorable outcomes in these discussions.

Kallas urged that rather than waiting to be invited to the negotiation table, Europe should proactively consider what it can offer once included in talks. This statement underscores the need for Europe to assert itself not only in providing support to Ukraine but also in shaping the future of peace negotiations. The current dynamics indicate that without a robust European presence at the table, the peace process may skew in favor of Russian interests.

The discussions at the conference reflect broader geopolitical concerns as the West grapples with the implications of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As tensions grow, the necessity for a cohesive strategy from Europe becomes ever more pressing, especially as the stakes in negotiations are high, determining not just the immediate future of Ukraine, but also the geopolitical landscape in Europe. Kallas’s remarks point to a pivotal moment where Europe must define its role in global diplomacy related to the crisis.