President Donald Trump is seeking an agreement with Russia that would bring an end to the war in Ukraine, but its consequences could extend far beyond Kyiv and Moscow. NATO allies are already expressing concern that decisions affecting the security of all of Europe could be made without their participation. Retired General Philip Breedlove, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO's combined armed forces, warns of these risks.
According to Breedlove, Putin seeks to restore spheres of influence by dividing power between Russia, China and the United States. He argues that Europe and Ukraine may refuse an agreement concluded without them, and that any arrangement that sacrifices European security will be doomed to fail. Trump, for his part, has said that the agreement "may concern all of Europe." He met with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, and this meeting became one of the steps toward negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the idea he called "Yalta 2.0," that is, a division of Europe among great powers. At the same time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that talks on European security after the conflict ends are already underway. Negotiations in Abu Dhabi are scheduled for November 10 and 11, and France has confirmed its participation. Thus, the question of European security is being considered as part of a broader process rather than as a separate topic.
Meanwhile, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a 90-minute conversation with Putin on October 27. This conversation was one of the most notable direct contacts between Nordic European leaders and the Russian president during this period. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called on Europeans to act unitedly rather than conduct separate contacts with Moscow, as fragmented initiatives weaken Europe's position in negotiations.
Breedlove stressed that it remains uncertain whether Russia will maintain its maximalist demands and whether Europe will join the negotiating process in full. These answers will determine whether the agreement can become a sustainable foundation for peace, or merely postpone a new crisis on the continent.