Paris: In a significant diplomatic effort hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, senior U.S., European, and Ukrainian officials met in Paris to discuss strategies to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. The meeting marked the highest-level transatlantic dialogue on the conflict since February.
Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, led the American delegation in talks with their European and Ukrainian counterparts. The meetings began with a luncheon at the Élysée Palace, attended by President Macron, Witkoff, and Rubio.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the attendees to increase pressure on Russia to agree to a ceasefire, stating that "Russia uses every day and night to kill." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected the peace initiative, accusing European leaders of focusing on prolonging the war rather than ending it.
Following the initial trilateral meeting, the U.S. delegation also met with Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, as well as national security advisors from Germany and the UK. Parallel sessions were held among the foreign and defense ministers of the involved nations.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the discussions focused on achieving a "comprehensive ceasefire," deploying multinational peacekeeping forces, and providing security guarantees to Ukraine for a "just and lasting peace."
European diplomats had previously indicated that they would push the U.S. to apply more pressure on Moscow for an unconditional ceasefire. One official stated, "We want the U.S. to use more leverage."
The U.S. State Department emphasized that Witkoff’s role centers on exploring pathways to end the war. He is expected to brief allies on his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, where Putin reportedly expressed openness to "permanent peace."
Macron’s office said the goal of the talks was to assess progress in peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Calls for increased pressure on Moscow, intensified following recent deadly missile strikes by Russia. A Russian attack on the city of Sumy killed at least 35 people and injured 117, while a prior strike on Kryvyi Rih left 18 dead. Additionally, a drone attack on Dnipro killed three people, including a young girl.
While Witkoff suggested Putin is ready for a lasting peace, Moscow rejected a recent joint U.S.-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional ceasefire.
President Donald Trump, who in May 2023 claimed he could end the war within 24 hours if re-elected, has directed his team to rebuild ties with Moscow as part of their mediation efforts.
Russian economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev alleged that several international actors are attempting to sabotage dialogue between Moscow and Washington. "Many individuals, entities, and countries are working to derail our talks with the U.S.," he said.
Zelensky has firmly stated that Ukraine will not accept any peace deal negotiated without its direct participation. Tensions between Trump and Zelensky peaked following a heated meeting at the White House in February, during which Trump criticized his Ukrainian counterpart for not initiating peace talks with Russia earlier.
