Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for Donald Trump, along with prominent diplomat Marco Rubio, convened with their European and Ukrainian counterparts in Paris to deliberate on strategies to conclude the conflict in Ukraine.
This meeting, facilitated by French President Emmanuel Macron, represented the highest level of transatlantic dialogue regarding the war since February.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged participants to exert “pressure” on Russia to accept a ceasefire, emphasizing that “Russia utilizes every day and every night to kill.”
In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the discussions, asserting that European leaders were intent on “continuing the war.”
The day commenced with a luncheon at the Elysée Palace, attended by Macron, Witkoff, and US Secretary of State Rubio.
Following this, the US delegation engaged with Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, as well as the national security advisors from Germany and the UK, according to the French presidency.
Additionally, separate discussions were held among the foreign and defense ministers of the involved nations.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha indicated that they had “explored avenues for achieving a fair and enduring peace, which included a complete ceasefire, a multinational contingent, and security assurances for Ukraine.”
Prior to the meeting, European diplomats expressed their intention to encourage the US to apply pressure on Russia for an unconditional ceasefire.
“We want the US to adopt a firmer stance,” remarked one official.
The US State Department indicated that the primary focus would be on strategies to halt the fighting in Ukraine, with Witkoff expected to provide insights from his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Macron’s office stated that the objective of the discussions was to “assess the progress of peace negotiations aimed at ending Russian aggression in Ukraine.”
Officials reiterated their call for a ceasefire just days after a Russian missile strike resulted in the deaths of at least 35 individuals and injured 117 in the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
A week earlier, another Russian attack on a residential area in Kryvyi Rih claimed the lives of at least 18 people.
Following last week’s meeting in St. Petersburg between Witkoff and President Putin, the U.S. envoy reported that the Russian leader expressed a willingness to pursue “permanent peace.”
This announcement follows Moscow’s dismissal of a proposal for a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire that had been reached by the U.S. and Ukraine the previous month.
In May 2023, before his return to the White House, Trump asserted that he could resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine “in 24 hours.”
His administration has actively worked to enhance relations with Moscow while attempting to facilitate a ceasefire between the two nations.
On Thursday, Russia’s chief economic negotiator stated that certain countries were attempting to “undermine” Moscow’s discussions with Washington.
“There are numerous individuals, organizations, and nations trying to hinder our dialogue with the United States,” Kirill Dmitriev remarked.
Zelensky had earlier cautioned that Ukraine would not agree to any peace deal unless it was included in the negotiations for such an agreement.
Tensions between Trump and Zelensky have escalated since a contentious exchange at the White House in February, during which the U.S. president criticized Ukraine’s leader for not initiating peace talks with Russia sooner.