The first round of US-Russia talks on a potential Ukraine peace deal kicked off yesterday in Riyadh – behind closed doors and without a single European or Ukrainian representative.

The meeting caps off a week of American shock therapy for the continent, from Trump’s call with Putin to tough talk from US top brass in Munich, which sent shockwaves to Brussels and Kyiv, leaving them wondering about their role – if any – in the deal.

Zelenskyy has insisted no deal happens without Kyiv while EU leaders met for an emergency meeting in Paris on Monday, though there was little they could agree on.

But if European leaders are not at the negotiation table, how will they make their voices heard? And how does Brussels guarantee Ukraine will only accept a deal that meets their demands?

To answer these questions, Euractiv’s chief diplomatic correspondent, Alexandra Brzozowski, sat down with the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas.