European governments are reeling after the Trump administration signaled that it is planning face-to-face talks with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine.

Security officials and heads of governments stress that Ukraine ought to be involved in peace talks, after the US moved to start negotiations with Moscow. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told a public radio station that peace was at stake and' Europeans need to brought in' German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Politico deal to end the war should not

Nato chief Mark Rutte, the head of the 32-nation defence bloc Nato, on Thursday insisted that Ukraine must be closely involved in any peace talks.