European and Ukrainian officials convened in Paris on Thursday for high-level discussions to gain stronger backing from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House envoy Steve Witkoff. The meetings reflect growing European unease over Washington’s increasingly conciliatory stance toward Moscow, following unsuccessful attempts to broker a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, now entering its fourth year.
The U.S. delegation is also in Paris to address broader diplomatic matters, including efforts to revive nuclear negotiations with Iran.
Although the U.S. administration has signaled a desire to end the conflict in Ukraine, it has shown signs of impatience with both Kyiv and Moscow. Ukraine recently accepted a proposed ceasefire put forward by Washington, but Russia turned it down. The only progress so far has been a limited agreement to reduce strikes on energy facilities and maritime zones—terms both sides accuse the other of violating.
In light of recent violence, including a deadly Russian attack on civilians in Sumy, Ukrainian and European leaders are urging Washington to adopt a firmer position against Moscow.
“I just want the war to stop so we can save lives,” Trump said on Sunday.
In Paris, Emmanuel Bonne, top foreign policy adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, welcomed Witkoff at the Elysee Palace ahead of a working lunch with Macron and Rubio. Before that, Bonne had joined his British and German counterparts in a meeting with Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Yermak was also scheduled to join the American delegation and European envoys later in the day.
The Ukrainian delegation’s visit had not been previously announced. Yermak stated that the meetings focused on critical regional security issues.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha added that discussions would include strategies for achieving a lasting ceasefire, the possible deployment of a multinational peacekeeping force, enhancing Ukraine’s defense system, and ensuring long-term national security.
According to the Kremlin, Witkoff, who had a five-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, was expected to use the Paris meetings to brief European officials on ongoing peace discussions.
Alongside the Ukraine crisis, U.S. and European officials confirmed that the visit also included dialogue on restarting nuclear negotiations with Iran. Witkoff is set to travel to Rome for a second round of talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday, following a 45-minute meeting between the two in Oman last weekend.
While the discussions in Oman were described as constructive, both sides admitted that reaching a deal remains a long way off.
Trump, who withdrew the U.S. from the original nuclear agreement in 2018, said earlier this week that military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities remains an option if diplomatic efforts fall short.
European governments were reportedly not informed in advance about the U.S.-Iran meeting in Oman and learned of it only after Trump made it public.
