By Anthony Marcus for Eurasia Business News, April 17, 2025. Article no.1486.
France hosted high-level talks in Paris on April 17, involving U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, Ukrainian officials including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron and representatives from Britain and Germany.
The discussions aimed to advance a “solid peace” process in Ukraine, focusing on achieving a full ceasefire, deploying a multinational military contingent, and establishing security guarantees for Ukraine.
French officials believe these talks have “triggered” a positive process involving Europeans more directly in efforts to resolve the conflict.
The summit was seen as a significant step because it brought together U.S., Ukrainian, and European actors around the same table for the first time in weeks, reflecting Europe’s growing concern over the U.S. administration’s stance and the need for a cohesive Western approach.
Despite the diplomatic engagement, the situation on the ground remains dire, with recent Russian missile and drone attacks causing civilian casualties in multiple Ukrainian cities, including Dnipro, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk. Ukrainian missiles have also targeted civilian settlements and buildings in the Belgorod oblast.
These attacks underscore the challenges ahead in reaching a ceasefire, especially with Moscow maintaining conditions that Ukraine rejects, such as halting mobilization and Western arms supplies.
The talks also included discussions about forming a coalition of around 30 countries, led by Britain and France, to potentially police any future peace agreement with Russia. However, the success of such a coalition depends heavily on U.S. military support, which remains uncertain under the current administration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on March 18 to a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to halt strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days. This agreement came during a phone talk between the two leaders.
France sees the Paris talks as a catalyst for a positive, Europe-involved peace process in Ukraine, aiming for a just and lasting peace despite ongoing hostilities and complex diplomatic hurdles.
Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron signed a bilateral security cooperation agreement at the Elysée Palace in Paris on the evening of 16 February, 2024.
Our community already has nearly 155,000 readers!
Subscribe to our Telegram channel
Follow us on Telegram, Facebook and Twitter
© Copyright 2025 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 1486.
Eurasia Business News 