Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Wednesday that France and its allies have agreed that any resolution to the war in Ukraine must consider Ukraine’s rights and Europe’s security concerns.
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Macron emphasized the unity of France and its allies, stating: “Our position is clear and united. We seek lasting peace in Ukraine… We stand with Ukraine and assume all our responsibilities to ensure peace and security in Europe.”
Macron’s remarks followed a meeting in Paris attended by leaders from 19 countries. The participants stressed that Ukraine must be directly involved in any negotiations and that its rights should be respected.
Leaders from Romania, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Cyprus, Finland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic took part in the meeting, both in person and online.
Notably absent from the list were the leaders of Hungary and Slovakia, who are considered close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has positioned himself as a mediator in the conflict.
The meeting took place amid growing concerns among European leaders over Washington’s evolving stance on Russia.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggesting that he was responsible for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Trump also stated that he "may" meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin by the end of February to discuss ending the war.
Zelenskyy expressed frustration over not being invited to a meeting between American and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine, acknowledged Ukraine’s need for security guarantees. Kellogg, who recently visited Kyiv, stated that his trip aimed to listen to Ukrainian leaders’ concerns and convey them to Trump in Washington.
Zelenskyy has announced that he will meet with Kellogg on Thursday, expressing hope that the discussions will be constructive.
