Paris summit seeks to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to host an urgent summit with about 20 European leaders in Paris Monday, responding to Russia’s intensified aggression in Ukraine.

This gathering gains added significance with the resurfacing of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stern warning against NATO’s expansion involving Ukraine, emphasizing the high stakes of the conflict.

A senior presidential adviser explained: “We want to send Putin an obvious message that he won’t win in Ukraine.”

This declaration reflects the unified European determination to challenge Putin’s narrative of victory in the war.

The summit features key European figures, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Foreign Minister David Cameron, and leaders from Scandinavian and Baltic countries, with the United States and Canada also participating.

The conference aims to reframe the discussion away from the recent setbacks Ukraine has faced, such as shortages of arms and soldiers.

French officials are eager to move beyond the pessimism that overshadowed the Munich security conference, especially after the death of Putin’s major domestic opponent, Alexei Navalny.

Putin’s words from 2022 add a grave dimension to the Paris summit. “Do you understand it or not that if Ukraine joins NATO and attempts to bring Crimea back by military means, the European countries will automatically be pulled into a war conflict with Russia?” the Russian president had clearly stated.

He further highlighted Russia’s nuclear capabilities, saying: “Of course, NATO and Russia’s potentials are incomparable. We understand it. But we also understand that Russia is one of the leading nuclear states. And by some modern components, it even outperforms many. There will be no winners.”

“And you will be pulled into this conflict against your will,” he had exclaimed before warning NATO, “You won’t even have time to blink your eye when you execute Article 5 (collective defense of NATO members).”