Trump’s Envoy, Marco Rubio Meet With Macron and Allies in Push for Ukraine Ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the United States and Europe to increase pressure on Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, during a high-profile diplomatic summit in Paris hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The meetings, which included Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marked the highest-level transatlantic talks on the Ukraine conflict since early February. The summit comes amid renewed Russian attacks and diplomatic tensions between Kyiv and Washington.
Paris Peace Talks: A Renewed Push for Ceasefire
The Paris summit saw a series of meetings involving senior officials from Ukraine, the US, the UK, Germany, and France. According to the French presidency, discussions centered around ending the war in Ukraine and reviewing progress on peace efforts. Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, met directly with the US delegation, alongside top European national security advisors.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said talks focused on establishing a “fair and lasting peace,” emphasizing the need for a full ceasefire, international security guarantees, and possibly a multinational peacekeeping contingent.
“Russia Uses Every Day and Night to Kill” – Zelensky
In a public appeal, Zelensky pressed Western leaders to ramp up diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia:
“Russia uses every day and every night to kill. We must not let that continue,” said the Ukrainian leader.
His plea follows deadly Russian missile strikes in Ukrainian cities over the past two weeks. A recent attack in Sumy left at least 35 people dead, while a drone strike in Dnipro killed three civilians, including a young girl.
Trump’s Diplomatic Gambit: Putin Open to “Permanent Peace”
The Paris talks come shortly after envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. Witkoff later claimed that Putin was open to a “permanent peace,” though Moscow recently rejected a joint US-Ukraine proposal for an unconditional ceasefire.
The Trump administration has been seeking to normalize relations with Moscow while simultaneously pursuing a brokered settlement to the conflict. Trump previously claimed he could end the war “in 24 hours” if returned to office, a promise that has drawn skepticism from Kyiv and Brussels alike.
Zelensky Warns Against Being Sidelined
As foreign diplomats intensify backchannel discussions with Russia, Zelensky has reiterated Ukraine’s non-negotiable stance—that no deal should be reached without Kyiv’s full participation.
“There will be no peace agreement without Ukraine at the table,” Zelensky has warned. Relations between Trump and Zelensky have been tense since a heated February confrontation at the White House, where Trump criticized Ukraine’s reluctance to begin peace negotiations.
Europe Pushes US to “Use the Stick”
According to European officials, the Paris meetings also served as an opportunity to urge the US to take a firmer line with the Kremlin. One diplomat was quoted saying:
“We want the US to use a bit more stick,” referencing the need for increased pressure to compel Moscow into compliance.
What’s Next for Ukraine Peace Talks?
Despite the push for diplomacy, the road to peace remains uncertain. Russia’s top economic negotiator Kirill Dmitriev recently claimed that outside forces were trying to “derail US-Russia dialogue,” reflecting the complexity of multi-party negotiations in a war that has now entered its third year.
As the humanitarian toll rises and geopolitical dynamics shift, all eyes are on whether this new round of transatlantic diplomacy can produce real momentum toward ending the war in Ukraine.
