Russia gets a small win, Ukraine gets a slight reprieve yet is still angrily outside the room and Europe is suddenly relevant again.

In a war dominated by the unexpected, few imagined Ukraine’s fourth year at war would so firmly now question the security of all of Europe.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine will not accept any agreement which is struck by Moscow and Washington over the head of Kyiv and has called for the creation of an “armed forces of Europe,” because the U.S. may no longer be counted on to support the continent.

Europe's participation in Ukraine peace talks will be needed eventually but Moscow first wants to build trust with Washington, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday, while suggesting that a deal to end the conflict may still be far off.

The future of Ukraine will be discussed this week in Riyadh between Americans and Russians, with neither Europeans, nor, at the time of writing, Ukrainians themselves at the table. The question for European leaders now is: what can any of them do about it?

NATO members are concerned about Europe's security, warning of need to bolster defenses against the risk of Russian aggression.

Remarks by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are fueling concerns that the U.S. will move away from Europe and align with Moscow.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is visiting the White House to try to convince President Donald Trump that peace in Ukraine will endure only if Kyiv and European leaders are at the negotiating table along with Moscow.