Macron seeks European unity on Ukraine as divisions persist among leaders

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 between Europe and the U.S., maintaining strong support for Ukraine. His recent decisions suggest a closer alignment with Washington, contrasting with Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's more cautious approaches. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed skepticism about the summit's effectiveness and criticized the exclusion of frontline states. Meanwhile, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was notably absent, signaling tensions within Europe regarding U.S. influence and security strategies.