US delegation to meet with European officials over Ukraine ceasefire
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff will complete their diplomatic meeting with their European counterparts on a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine.
For the first time, the Trump Administration will be collectively conferencing with both Ukrainian and European officials in Paris. After the prior ceasefire negotiations with Russia fell through, the US delegation hopes this impromptu meeting will further Trump’s interest in stopping the bloodshed. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha added that the agenda includes negotiating a ‘complete ceasefire’ and assuring Ukraine’s long-term security through a multinational military contingent. Additionally, Rubio and Witkoff will bilaterally meet with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to discuss the early workings of a nuclear deal with Iran.
Given mounting tensions between President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in recent months, the productivity of today’s meeting will be critical in negotiating peace in Ukraine. However, the US will not likely agree to French President Emmanuel Macron’s demands for security guarantees for Ukraine. Moreover, the announcement of paused tariffs from the Trump Administration has caused ‘fragile’ tension between the parties. The agreement on a ceasefire remains unlikely due to this lack of consensus and Russia’s refusal to negotiate. However, Rubio has threatened to ‘move on’ from the peace talks should ceasefire negotiations stall. The Trump Administration’s agenda would then shift to negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran as an agreement remains likely. Meetings on peace in Ukraine between the US and European delegations will continue in London next week.
