Europe must not make “empty promises” on security to Ukraine again, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters on February 17 just before flying to Paris for an emergency meeting of key European allies that is expected to fast-forge a unified response to the US-Russia talks on peace in Ukraine.

Europe has been scrambling to ensure the peace process - which US President Donald Trump unexpectedly set into motion by placing a call to Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, without consulting anyone - does not lead to a deal done without Ukraine and its European allies.

The Trump administration claims it wants the deal done by April 20, as a US delegation is on its way to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to meet a Russian delegation led by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The US said last week that there would not be a place for Europe at the negotiation table in the initial stages of the talks because it would not like “Minsk to happen again,” referring to failed talks in Minsk in 2014 and 2015 that failed to stop fighting in the Donbas at the time.

“This isn’t time to offer worthless security guarantees to Ukraine. It was done once, and they turned out empty. This time if you offer something, you have to be 100% certain you can act on it,” Tusk said.

Ukraine will not take part in the Riyadh talks, either, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on February 17, fuelling more concerns that Trump is pushing for a deal that will cater for Russia’s interest more than Ukraine’s and Europe’s. Previously, special envoy to Ukraine retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg said during the Munich Security Conference (MSC) that “of course” Ukraine would be invited to participate.

It is Europe, however, that Trump said would have to step up defence expenditure to end its longtime dependence on the US for security. Europe is also expected to assume responsibility for a lasting peace in Ukraine.

“We have to make massive decisions now when it comes to defence spending and operational capability. Our security depends on it and we won’t be able to help Ukraine if we can’t make decisions about our own security. A safe Ukraine is guarantee to our own security,” Tusk said.

The meeting in Paris will gather leaders of France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland. The European Commission President and Nato Secretary General will also be present.

“If we can’t be a counterweight to Russia’s military potential, we have to make it happen now. There’s no need to take offence if the US allies is saying so and I’m gonna ask directly the prime ministers and presidents in Paris if they’re ready,” Tusk also said.

The Polish PM also cautioned the European leaders convening in Paris against competing, rather than cooperating when working out solutions for a lasting peace in Europe.

But Tusk ruled out sending Polish troops to Ukraine for now. France and the UK, on the other hand, said they would consider doing so. Were a demilitarised zone to be established along the entire Russia-Ukrainian front now - which is over 1,000 km long - an estimated 120,000 would be needed to man it.

European countries lack the trained military personnel needed for a potential 100,000-strong peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, equivalent to an entire army corps, Polish National Security Bureau chief General Dariusz Łukowski told Radio Zet. Citing Germany as an example, Łukowski said Berlin has only one fully mobilisable division—and even that would require "significant effort."

Before going to Paris, Tusk insisted that Europe simply must get its act together - with the US. “Security in the region needs both Europe and the US regardless of how brutal some [US’] messaging might sound. There is no reason we won’t be able to find a common language on most pressing issues,” Tusk said.

The Polish PM stressed Poland could take a lead in the peace process because of its “special relationship” with the US, as the only Nato country that is close to the Trump-proposed level of spending 5% of GDP on defence, and its role in helping Ukraine fight Russia so far.

As Tusk is meeting other leaders in Paris, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, is meeting Polish President Andrzej Duda on February 18, Duda’s office said.

Duda, who is leaving office later this year, has welcomed Trump’s win in elections in November but he and his political camp appear to have been stunned by Trump’s overtures to Russia.

Last week, Trump and the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth shocked their European allies by apparently conceding to Russia that Ukraine would not regain territories Russia has claimed so far in the three-year war. Washington also ruled out a Nato membership for Ukraine.

"Russia cannot win this war,” a Duda’s aide told local media ahead of the president’s meeting with Kellogg.