Macron hosts European summit on Ukraine as divisions persist

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a summit in Paris with select European leaders to discuss Ukraine, aiming to strengthen European unity. This comes as the Trump administration engages directly with Russia, sidelining Europe in security discussions. Macron seeks to position France as a leader in European defense, advocating for strategic autonomy. However, divisions remain, with Germany resisting a European-led security force and key nations excluded from the talks. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is pursuing a different approach, maintaining strong ties with Washington while supporting Ukraine. Italy's Giorgia Meloni expressed skepticism about the summit's effectiveness, highlighting concerns over military commitments and the exclusion of frontline states.