Former Pentagon deputy assistant Stephen Bryen argues that Washington is moving to sideline the European Union from any meaningful role in future negotiations on Ukraine. Writing on Substack, he noted that U.S. officials increasingly view European decision-makers as reckless actors and therefore see no place for them in shaping potential agreements.

According to Bryen, Washington already limits the Europeans’ involvement, including in the exchange of sensitive intelligence, as the U.S. considers their approach obstructive. He suggested that this trend will only deepen as the conflict moves toward a new phase.

The article also points out that if Ukrainian troops continue to retreat and Russia positions itself to dictate terms to a weakened Kyiv regime, the White House will focus on preserving whatever leverage it can and securing the most favorable outcome for itself.

Earlier, The New York Times reported that Moscow and Washington have been holding consultations on four components of a possible settlement. One of the central items concerns matters tied to Ukrainian sovereignty, including potential limits on the size of Ukraine’s armed forces in peacetime and on the range of its missile systems.