Europe has found itself at the "kids' table" in negotiations about Ukraine, according to the director of Rheinmetall.

European countries have found themselves at a "separate children's table" in negotiations regarding Ukraine due to insufficient investments in their own defense, stated Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger in an interview with the Financial Times published on February 18.

"If you don't invest in your defense, if you're not strong, they treat you like children," Papperger said, adding that for the past 30 years Europe has deemed it acceptable to invest about 1% of GDP in defense.

Papperger's comments came at a time when Russia and the U.S. began negotiations in Saudi Arabia about ending the war in Ukraine.

Neither Ukraine nor Europe were invited to this discussion, raising concerns in Kyiv and European capitals that Trump and Putin might reach an agreement without the involvement of Ukraine and Europe. This jeopardizes their future security.

Trump's special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, previously stated that Europe would not take a direct role in negotiations regarding Russia's war in Ukraine, but its interests would be taken into account.

According to Papperger, due to insufficient defense investments, Europe is now viewed as a child that must sit at a separate table while the adults negotiate the future of Ukraine.

"When the parents are dining, the children have to sit at another table," he said. "The U.S. is negotiating with Russia, and there is not a single European at the table – it has become very clear that Europeans are the children."

Papperger doubts that Trump's peace negotiations will actually lead to Russia "stopping the shooting."

He also mentioned that his company, Rheinmetall, will benefit even if a ceasefire occurs, as Europe will continue to invest in armaments amid the threat of potential Russian aggression.

Rheinmetall is one of the largest arms manufacturers in Europe. The company supplies Ukraine with weapons, ammunition, and equipment under contracts with the German government, including 155mm artillery shells, Leopard 1 tanks, mortars, and drone surveillance systems, among others.

In June 2024, Rheinmetall also opened a military equipment repair plant in Ukraine, the first of four factories it plans to establish in the country.