European allies decline participation in Donald Trump's Peace Council

Greece, Italy, and Poland have announced they will not participate in Donald Trump's Peace Council scheduled for February 19. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cited scheduling conflicts, including a visit to Abu Dhabi on February 17 and a subsequent trip to New Delhi. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani pointed to an 'insurmountable constitutional obstacle,' while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed concerns regarding the council's format and potential competition with the United Nations. Western skepticism is further fueled by the invitation of Russia and Belarus to the proceedings. The council, chaired by Trump, aims to address global conflicts with an executive board featuring Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, Tony Blair, and Jared Kushner. According to draft statutes, membership is limited to three years unless a state pays $1 billion for permanent status. While some nations have coordinated their absence, Poland has not ruled out future participation if conditions change.