Ukraine’s president has intensified diplomatic efforts across Europe as American negotiators prepare for critical discussions with Russian leadership. Volodymyr Zelenskyy spent several hours in talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, focusing on potential peace negotiations and security guarantees for his embattled nation.
The diplomatic flurry comes as Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s specially appointed envoy, travels to Moscow for a Tuesday meeting with Vladimir Putin. Witkoff recently led weekend negotiations with Ukrainian officials in Florida, joined by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who previously played a key role in Middle Eastern peace efforts.
European officials have voiced alarm about the direction of peace discussions. The EU’s foreign policy chief warned that Ukraine risks bearing disproportionate pressure to make concessions, despite being the victim of Russian aggression. She emphasized that any sustainable peace must acknowledge Russia’s role as the aggressor and its continued targeting of Ukrainian civilians.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, insisted there must be no imposed peace settlement. He stressed that both Ukraine and its European partners must participate in any agreement to end the conflict. Macron echoed this sentiment, stating that only Ukraine can make decisions about its territorial integrity.
The Ukrainian defense minister traveled to Brussels to meet with EU counterparts, highlighting his country’s most pressing military needs, particularly air defense systems. The Netherlands announced an additional contribution of 250 million euros to NATO’s weapons procurement initiative for Ukraine, providing a boost amid ongoing combat operations.