Macron seeks European unity on Ukraine as divisions persist

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a summit with select European leaders to discuss Ukraine, aiming to strengthen European security. However, divisions remain, with Germany resisting Macron's push for a European-led defense and key nations excluded from the talks. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is positioning himself as a bridge to Washington while supporting Ukraine. His recent decisions suggest a closer alignment with the U.S., contrasting with Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's more cautious approaches. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed skepticism about the summit's location and the exclusion of frontline states. She opposed deploying European troops to Ukraine without solid security guarantees, highlighting ongoing tensions within Europe regarding defense strategies.