RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — U.S. and Russian diplomats are meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine—without Ukraine or European nations at the table. The negotiations, led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, mark a significant shift in Washington’s approach, sidelining key transatlantic allies and raising concerns over the future of European security.

Alarm across Europe

The talks, which begin Tuesday, have already sparked alarm across Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency summit of European and NATO leaders at the Elysee Palace in Paris, where officials expressed deep unease over what is being described as the most serious crisis to grip the continent in decades.

“At stake is not just the future of Ukraine, but an existential question for Europe as a whole,” said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Trump administration’s decision

The Trump administration’s decision to engage in direct negotiations with Moscow—without European or Ukrainian participation—has unsettled long-standing defense ties between Washington and its NATO allies. Lord David Hannah, a former U.K. ambassador to the United Nations, warned that the move could fundamentally weaken transatlantic unity.

“Is President Trump bullying his European partners? Many policymakers here see his administration’s rhetoric as deeply critical of Europe, and that’s unsettling,” Hannah said.

Concern is shared in Moscow

The concern is shared in Moscow, though for different reasons. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the idea of European involvement in the talks, suggesting Western leaders were only seeking ways to freeze the conflict rather than resolve it.

“The Europeans are trying to weasel out some cunning ideas about freezing the conflict,” Lavrov said. “So why should we invite them at all?”

Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday ahead of the first round of discussions with the Russian delegation. The absence of European and Ukrainian officials has raised broader questions about Washington’s reliability as an ally, with some analysts warning that NATO’s deterrent power could be undermined.

“The possibility of America becoming an unreliable partner is out there, and that would be a terrible thing,” Hannah said. “The main consequence would be a weakened NATO, which has preserved peace in Europe—and globally—for decades.”

In response to the shifting geopolitical landscape, many European nations are now accelerating efforts to bolster their defense spending, fearing a newly emboldened Russia.