NEW DELHI: Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior diplomat Marco Rubio are set to meet with European leaders in Paris later on Thursday to discuss efforts aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The high-level talks will include Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who have already arrived in the French capital to participate in the discussions.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy will also be present at the meeting, marking the most significant transatlantic dialogue on the conflict since February. European diplomats have indicated that they plan to press the United States to take a firmer stance on Russia in an effort to secure an unconditional ceasefire.

“We want the US to use a bit more stick,” one European official remarked.
These diplomatic efforts follow a series of deadly Russian attacks in Ukraine. Earlier this week, a missile strike on the city of Sumy claimed at least 35 lives and left 117 injured. Earlier in April, a residential strike in Kryvyi Rih killed 18 people, and just this Wednesday, a drone attack on Dnipro left three dead, including a young girl.

Witkoff and Rubio are also expected to hold meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and his senior advisers, before further consultations involving the US Secretary of State, Lammy, and French and German officials. National security advisers from several European nations are also expected to participate.

The US State Department has confirmed that discussions will focus on pathways to ending hostilities in Ukraine. Witkoff is expected to brief attendees on his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, commented: “We are working on important issues for the security of Ukraine and the whole of Europe.”

Back in May 2023, before returning to the White House, Trump claimed he could resolve the Russia-Ukraine war “within 24 hours.” His current administration has prioritized rebuilding relations with Moscow, while actively pursuing a ceasefire between the two nations.

However, President Zelensky has cautioned against any peace deal that excludes Ukraine from the negotiating table. Tensions between Trump and Zelensky remain high following a contentious February meeting at the White House, during which Trump criticized the Ukrainian leader for delaying peace talks with Russia.