European leaders meet as US and Russia lock them out of Ukraine talks | First Thing

<p>The meeting, convened by Emmanuel Macron, comes as US officials prepare for talks in Riyadh with their Russian counterparts. Plus, the comprehensive ridiculing of New Zealand’s tourism campaign</p><p>Good morning.</p><p>US officials are preparing to hold <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/16/ukraine-summit-paris-macron-european-leaders-us-russia">preliminary negotiations in Riyadh with Russia over Ukraine</a>, as European powers meet in Paris to demand the inclusion of Kyiv and themselves in the talks.</p><p><strong>Who will attend the Paris summit?</strong> The French president, Emmanuel Macron, who is convening the talks, Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, and the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer.</p><p><strong>What role is the UK playing?</strong> An active one – <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/feb/16/starmer-ready-to-put-british-troops-on-the-ground-in-ukraine-if-peace-deal-reached">Starmer on Sunday said he was prepared to put British troops</a> on the ground in Ukraine to safeguard peace.</p><p><strong>How will this </strong><strong>affect consumers?</strong> Expect to see rising prices, Stiglitz said, adding that almost all economists agree with this: it is just a question of magnitude.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/17/first-thing-european-leaders-meet-us-russia-lock-them-out-ukraine-talks">Continue reading...</a>