On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated the exceptional discussions among high-ranking officials from the US, Europe, and Ukraine as a “highly significant moment for agreement.” This comes as Ukraine’s supporters aim to revive halted peace initiatives amidst growing tensions between Transatlantic partners.
Discussions between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff have taken place amid President Donald Trump’s attempts to halt three years of conflict without success thus far. This follows Russian President Vladimir Putin declining to commit to a full ceasefire despite numerous efforts to secure his agreement.
Macron stated in English following an afternoon luncheon with Rubio and Witkoff that this was a highly significant moment for coming together.
Macron stated, “I believe everyone desires genuine and enduring peace, along with a strong and lasting peacefulness.”
The gatherings in Paris occurred merely days following Witkoff’s meeting with Putin.
The head of staff for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Andriy Yermak, along with Foreign Minister Andriy Smyha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, were present in Paris to engage in discussions with representatives from Europe and the United States.
Britain and Germany’s national security advisors were also in Paris, the French presidency said.
Macron has emerged as a key figure in efforts to establish a unified European approach for supporting Ukraine throughout the ongoing conflict and into the post-conflict period. This development follows President Trump’s surprising move of initiating direct negotiations with Russia, which stunned global observers.
Russia’s strikes, which have recently killed dozens of people including children in Ukraine’s cities of Sumy and Kryvyi Rig, show how the war is taking a hefty toll despite a series of diplomatic efforts.
“Reached Paris with a single objective: to obtain genuine, actionable solutions for terminating the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” Rubio stated on X.
– ‘Spreading Russian narratives’ –
Earlier Thursday, Zelensky urged the allies meeting in Paris to lean on Russia to agree to a ceasefire.
“Russia uses every day and every night to kill. We must put pressure on the killers,” he said on Telegram.
Zelensky also said Ukraine had “finally” received information that China was supplying weapons to Russia.
And he accused Witkoff of “spreading Russian narratives” after the US envoy suggested a peace deal with Russia hinged on the status of Ukraine’s occupied territories.
“I think Mr. Witkoff has adopted the approach of the Russian side,” Zelensky informed journalists. “This is quite risky, as he might be inadvertently or intentionally promoting Russian propaganda.”
This week, Witkoff stated that Putin expressed openness to “lasting peace” following discussions with the president in St. Petersburg. This was their third encounter since Trump regained the presidency in January.
During a Fox News interview aired on Monday, Witkoff stated that he observed a emerging peace agreement.
However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed the significance of the Paris meeting.
He stated that unfortunately, we observe from Europeans an emphasis on prolonging the conflict.
Russia’s chief economic negotiator, Kirill Dmitriev, stated that some nations were attempting to “undermine” the discussions between Moscow and Washington.
Despite a series of diplomatic efforts, Russia has continued to strike Ukraine.
Russian drone strikes and shelling in Ukraine killed at least 12 people on Thursday, Ukrainian authorities said, just days after a Russian attack killed at least 35 people in the northeastern city of Sumy.
– ‘Review progress’ –
Macron’s office said the purpose of the Paris talks was to “review progress on peace negotiations aimed at ending the Russian aggression in Ukraine”.
The negotiations were to focus on a potential full ceasefire, the involvement of international peacekeepers and the development of Ukraine’s security framework, Ukraine’s foreign ministry said.
Britain and France are spearheading discussions among a “coalition of the willing” of around 30 countries looking to shore up any deal Trump might strike with a “reassurance force”.
The German foreign ministry said government security advisor Jens Ploetner would participate in the Paris talks.
Zelensky stated that the negotiators were achieving “significant headway” in intense discussions with the United States concerning a mineral agreement aimed at securing critical American backing.
Last month, Putin dismissed a U.S. suggestion for an absolute and total truce, following Kyiv’s support of the concept.
He additionally proposed that Zelensky should be ousted from his position, which ignited an enraged reaction from Trump, stating that he was “extremely furious” with the Russian president.
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