Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned European leaders on Thursday to be wary of discussions between the United States and Russia about a new security arrangement for the continent. Speaking at a summit in Dublin, he said the issue was not just about security guarantees for Ukraine but about a possible new security framework between Europe and Russia. "We are waiting for more details, and Europe needs to pay close attention," he said.

The remarks came as US envoys were in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, following two days of talks in Abu Dhabi that failed to make a breakthrough towards ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine. US representatives have alarmed European capitals by floating a possible new security architecture for the continent during the talks, fuelling fears that Washington could side with Moscow. Putin has long sought to rewrite the decades-old framework underpinning European security and to roll back the NATO military alliance.S1

EU council president Antonio Costa said there was no need to reinvent the wheel, arguing that Europe had a functioning security architecture until Russia's invasion of Ukraine gradually undermined and ultimately destroyed it. EU leaders have been adamant that they see no need to discuss Europe's security arrangements before Moscow agrees to stop fighting in Ukraine. Before launching the 2022 war, the Kremlin had issued NATO an ultimatum that included demands to withdraw forces from eastern Europe and stop accepting new members, which the alliance rejected.S1

At the Dublin summit, France's President Emmanuel Macron said Paris had secured the signature of some 40 European countries on a declaration reaffirming the "key principles" of the continent's security. A draft text seen by AFP said that security remained based on existing treaties such as the UN charter and NATO's founding document, and that "any issue affecting European security must be decided in consultation with the Europeans."S1