U.S.-Russia agreements criticized for excluding Europe and Ukraine, as denounced by the Danish Foreign Minister.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has issued a warning to the United States and Russia, urging them to include Ukraine and European countries in any peace negotiations concerning the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In an interview with TV2 and DR, Rasmussen cautioned against a potential deal that could be reached "over the head" of Europe, likening it to a "deal with the devil."
Rasmussen's comments came ahead of a summit scheduled for August 15, 2025, between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Concerns have been raised that the leaders might seek a peace deal bypassing Ukraine and European stakeholders.
The Danish minister emphasized that any agreement without Ukraine and Europe would be fundamentally wrong and potentially lead to an unjust or unstable resolution. He underscored the importance of Ukraine's sovereignty and agency in resolving the conflict.
Rasmussen also noted that negotiations to end the war should commence with an agreement on a ceasefire, followed by discussions on a sustainable solution. He did not express any certainty about the likelihood of Trump and Putin reaching an agreement that Europe would ignore, but he hoped it wouldn't happen.
The minister did not provide any details about the potential consequences of such a scenario, beyond stating that it would be a bad situation. He also did not mention any specific steps that Europe should take if such a scenario were to occur.
Rasmussen's stance underscores the principle that Ukraine’s sovereignty and agency are essential to resolving the conflict. It also signals Denmark’s and Europe’s insistence on a ceasefire as a prerequisite, warning against rushed or exclusive deals with Russia that might ignore Ukrainian interests and broader regional security.
The warning serves to temper expectations about quick diplomatic fixes between the US and Russia alone, highlighting the complexity of the conflict and the necessity of inclusive, multilateral negotiations incorporating Ukraine and European partners.
[1] The Guardian. (2025, August 10). Danish foreign minister warns US and Russia against excluding Ukraine from peace talks. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/10/danish-foreign-minister-warns-us-and-russia-against-excluding-ukraine-from-peace-talks
[2] BBC News. (2025, August 10). Lars Løkke Rasmussen warns against excluding Ukraine from peace talks. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58784563
[4] Reuters. (2025, August 10). Polish officials join chorus of opposition to possible US-Russia peace deal excluding Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/polish-officials-join-chorus-opposition-possible-us-russia-peace-deal-excluding-ukraine-2025-08-10/
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