European leaders are preparing to hold an emergency summit in Paris as the U.S. moves ahead with talks with Russia to end the Ukraine war without consulting European allies, or even Ukraine.
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00:00Speaking at a security conference in Munich, J.D. Vance, the new U.S. vice president, was
00:06expected to focus on Russia's war in Ukraine.
00:09But instead, he took a swing at Europe.
00:12The threat that I worry the most about vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia, it's not China, it's
00:18not any other external actor.
00:21And what I worry about is the threat from within.
00:24The retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values.
00:29Among other things, Vance accused Europe of suppressing free speech, while defending
00:34his country's choice to engage directly with Russia, as U.S. President Donald Trump
00:38pushes to end the Ukraine war.
00:41The unexpected approach leaving Europe scrambling to safeguard its own interests.
00:46With French President Emmanuel Macron calling for an emergency leaders' summit in Paris
00:51to discuss the continent's security.
00:53There is a wind of unity blowing over Europe as we may not have felt since the COVID period.
01:01The crisis talks come as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio prepares to lead an American
01:05delegation to meet with Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia.
01:10The two groups say they will begin peace talks on the almost three-year war in Ukraine.
01:14But they didn't invite the country to participate in negotiations.
01:19Also left out, leaders of Ukraine's European neighbors, who have been pressing to be involved.
01:25The U.S. has played down their concerns of being sidelined, saying the talks are only
01:29in its early stages.
01:31Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to begin these negotiations during a phone call
01:35with U.S. President Donald Trump last week.
01:38If at any point in time there's an opportunity to continue the work that President Trump
01:42started last week, to begin to create an opening for a broader conversation that it would involve
01:48Ukraine and would involve the end of the war and would involve our allies all over
01:51the world, particularly in Europe, we're going to explore it if that opportunity presents itself.
01:56Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made it clear he will not accept the outcome
02:00of any negotiations that don't involve Ukraine.
02:03But this has not affected the U.S.'s course of action.
02:06The United States wants to retreat from international organizations, so it is weakening structures
02:12of international order.
02:14It has questioned international rules and at the same time it wants to be a player in
02:19major difficult situations and Russia's war on Ukraine is one of those situations that
02:27the U.S. has picked to say we will be a key player here to end this war.
02:33But with U.S. support dwindling, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for
02:37the creation of European armed forces to help protect his country.
02:42U.S. President Trump touts an in-person meeting with his Russian counterpart very soon.
02:48Ukraine and Europe are left scrambling for independent guarantees of security.
02:52Devon Tsai and Rosie Granger for Taiwan Plus.