António Costa, President of the European Council, has called for the European Union to engage in negotiations with Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine and to establish a new security architecture for Europe.

In a related development, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the UK's readiness to send troops to Ukraine, reinforcing the country's commitment to enhancing security guarantees for the region.

He emphasized that these negotiations must recognize Russia as a global threat, extending beyond just the situation in Ukraine.

Costa's remarks come ahead of a significant meeting in Paris among European leaders, where they will discuss the implications of U.S. President Donald Trump's recent announcement of plans to engage in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This meeting is particularly timely, occurring just hours before a security summit called by French President Emmanuel Macron, which will focus on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and broader European security.

Concerns have been raised among EU leaders regarding the potential for agreements between the U.S. and Russia that may occur without their involvement.

Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, indicated that while European nations may not have a formal seat at the negotiation table, their opinions could still be taken into account.

The Paris meeting is set against the backdrop of upcoming diplomatic negotiations between European and Russian leaders in Saudi Arabia.

Costa asserted that if Trump expects Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security, then European nations must lead the way in designing the new security framework.

He also highlighted Russia's aggressive posture towards the Baltic states, underscoring the threat it poses to their sovereignty.

Costa reiterated that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is fundamentally about European security, emphasizing that it extends beyond Ukraine itself.

He pointed to Russia's military presence in Moldova and Georgia as further evidence of its status as a global threat.