Why has Europe been sidelined in negotiations with Russia regarding Ukraine?

Europe has been sidelined in negotiations with Russia because they haven't invested adequately in their own defense or provided sufficient support to Ukraine. According to Gabriel Narona, European countries have failed to increase their military spending while Russia has tripled theirs, leaving Europe without leverage at the negotiating table with Putin. This lack of commitment to defense spending over the past decade has directly resulted in Europe's diminished diplomatic influence. Though European leaders are now realizing these mistakes and expressing concerns about being excluded from negotiations, Narona suggests this recognition comes too late to affect the current diplomatic dynamics.