- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff met with European and Ukrainian officials in Paris
- Officials described the talks as an "excellent exchange" and a "strategic opportunity"
- A US peace plan outline received "encouraging reception" from participants
- More meetings will happen next week in London
- Trump expects to hear from Russia "this week" about the US ceasefire proposal
European and Ukrainian officials met with top US diplomats in Paris yesterday in what French officials called an "excellent exchange." These were the highest-level talks in weeks about the ongoing war in Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff joined officials from Ukraine, Britain, France, and Germany at the Elysée Palace. The meeting gave Ukraine's allies a chance to understand what the Trump administration is thinking about ending the war.
The talks happened after weeks where European countries felt left out of US President Donald Trump's direct talks with Russia. Many Ukrainian and European leaders worry about Trump and Witkoff repeating Russian talking points in their peace efforts.
The US Peace Plan Gets Positive Reception
A source from France's Elysée Palace said the meetings provided "a very strong strategic opportunity." The State Department also mentioned that their peace plan outline got an "encouraging reception" at the talks.
After meeting with the allies, Rubio called Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to share the same peace plan outline. The State Department statement said: "President Trump and the United States want this war to end, and have now presented to all parties the outlines of a durable and lasting peace."
French President Emmanuel Macron seemed happy with the progress. He posted on social media that Thursday's talks marked "a day of diplomatic mobilisation" and added, "Today, we engaged in a positive and constructive discussion on how to achieve both a ceasefire and a comprehensive, lasting peace."
More Meetings Planned in London
The diplomatic efforts won't stop with the Paris meeting. The same group will meet again next week in London to continue discussions. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce didn't confirm if Secretary Rubio would attend these follow-up talks.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky wasn't at the Paris meeting. On Thursday, he criticized Witkoff again, saying the special envoy was "spreading Russian narratives," according to Reuters.
Trump's Comments on Ukraine
President Trump told reporters Thursday that the United States would be "hearing" from Moscow "this week" about the US proposal for a ceasefire. "We're going to be hearing from them this week, very shortly, actually, and we'll see. But we want it to stop. We want the death and the killing to stop," he said in the Oval Office.
Trump added that while he's "not a big fan" of Zelensky, he doesn't blame the Ukrainian leader for the war. "I don't hold Zelensky responsible, but I'm not exactly thrilled with the fact that that war started. That was a war that would have never started if I were president," Trump told reporters.
Russia Increases Attacks Despite Peace Talks
Trump's early promise to end the war "in a day" hasn't happened yet. His hope to get a full truce by Easter weekend also looks unlikely to succeed.
Russia has actually increased its attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks, even while talking with US officials. After meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin recently, Witkoff told Fox News that any peace deal might involve the "so-called five territories" - meaning Crimea (which Russia took in 2014) and four mainland Ukrainian regions Russia has occupied since 2022.
Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian parliament member, told CNN on Tuesday that Witkoff "may be inadvertently trying to push pro-Russian narratives."
Challenges in Reaching a Lasting Agreement
The Trump administration has struggled to get a real peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Some critics say Trump uses punishment with Ukraine but rewards with Russia.
After the White House briefly stopped weapons and intelligence to Ukraine in March, Ukraine quickly agreed to a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. But progress stalled when Russia said it would only follow the agreement if sanctions on Russian banks and exports were lifted.
The Center for Countering Disinformation, a Ukrainian think-tank, points out that the supposed truce hasn't stopped Russia's attacks. In the 22 days after the truce announcement, Russia killed nearly 2.5 times more Ukrainians than during the same period before.
Trump showed some frustration with Russia last week, saying "Russia has to get moving," but he didn't set any deadlines or consequences.
Russian Perspective on the Talks
While the Paris summit was happening, Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev claimed many countries are trying to "disrupt" Russia's talks with the US. He said Putin's latest meeting with Witkoff was "extremely productive" but that dialogue was happening in "very difficult conditions – constant attacks, constant disinformation."
The coming days and weeks will be crucial to see if these high-level talks can actually lead to a real reduction in fighting and a path toward lasting peace in Ukraine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of the Paris talks? The talks brought together US, Ukrainian, and European officials to discuss peace efforts in Ukraine and coordinate their approach to ending the war.
Who attended the Paris meeting? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff met with officials from Ukraine, Britain, France, and Germany. President Zelensky was not present.
Will there be more diplomatic meetings? Yes, the same group will meet again next week in London to continue discussions.
What is Trump's position on the Ukraine war? Trump has said he wants to end the war quickly and stop "the death and killing." While critical of Zelensky, he doesn't blame him for the war and claims it wouldn't have started if he had been president.
Has the ceasefire agreement been effective? According to a Ukrainian think-tank, Russian attacks have actually increased since the ceasefire was announced, with casualty rates 2.5 times higher in the 22 days after the announcement.
What are the main obstacles to peace? Russia wants sanctions lifted before fully implementing ceasefire agreements, while Ukraine and Western allies are concerned about territorial concessions. Trust issues and ongoing Russian attacks complicate negotiations.