Paris (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – France hosted a high level trilateral meeting on Thursday, April 18, 2025, at Élysée Palace, which gathered senior representatives from the United States, European nations and Ukraine to address the Ukrainian conflict together with peace possibilities. French President Emmanuel Macron described the talks as an important “convergence” and announced that the dialogue would continue next week in London.
The high level talk in Paris was the first meeting of top United States officials, European Political leaders and Ukrainian representatives who met jointly to seek an end to the war, since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff joined French President Emmanuel Macron, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak with Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and other top European and Ukrainian officials for hours of separate meetings at the French presidential palace Élysée to find common grounds to end the Ukrainian war.
How are the high-level Paris talks viewed by the US, Europe and Ukraine?
French President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted the high level talk, describes it as “an important convergence.” He added, “Everyone wants to get peace. A robust and sustainable peace. The question is about phasing.” A spokesperson from the Élysée Palace said, “We have started a positive process in which Europeans are a part.” France announced that talks in the same format would continue in London next week.
The French official said: “The Americans are willing to talk about security guarantees, but the exact nature of those guarantees will depend on negotiations that allow Ukraine to achieve a strong and long-lasting peace beginning with a complete ceasefire as soon as possible.”
The Élysée spokesperson said the object of the meetings was “to allow Ukraine to better understand the US proposals”, adding that the fact that Rubio, Witkoff and Kellogg attended “shows they recognise the important role of the Europeans”.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on social media, “The time to end the war between Russia and Ukraine is now”. He added, “Today in Paris, Special Envoy to the Middle East and Special Presidential Envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Gen. Keith Kelogg and I met with leaders from France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Ukraine to talk about how we can stop the killing and reach a just and sustainable peace”. U.S President Donald Trump envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, who also attended the high level talk, stated the talks were “very productive” but he did not give more details.
A spokesperson for the US State department, Tammy Bruce said, “The United States and President Trump want this war to end, and they have now presented the outlines of a durable and lasting peace to all parties.” He added, “The encouraging reception in Paris to the United States framework shows that peace is possible if all parties commit to reaching an agreement.”
Bruce said Secretary of State Marco spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Thursday April 17, 2025, conveying the same message he gave the delegations in Paris.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, stated that “We exchanged views on the next steps, including the implementation of a full ceasefire, the involvement of a multinational military contingent and development of effective security architecture for Ukraine.”
What Triggered the High- Level talks in Paris?
The High level talks in Paris between U.S officials with the European leaders comes in the light of continuous Russian air strikes and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent days.
As per reports almost 35 people killed in the drone attacks by Russia in the northeastern Ukrainian city of sumy on April 13, 2025, while at least 3 people were killed in the drone attack in Dnipro last night.
According to Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in the high level talks in Paris the officials will discuss a full ceasefire of the Ukraine war and international peacekeeping and post war security framework.
Why do European leaders show concern about US diplomatic treatments toward Russia?
European political leaders urged the United States to take a firm stance against Russia, emphasizing the need for measures to secure the complete ceasefire.
European leaders display growing uneasiness about the recent diplomatic activities between Moscow and the United States under the current administration. European leaders exhibit concern because President Donald Trump ‘failed’ to secure a ceasefire for the ongoing Russia-Ukraine dispute which reached its third anniversary.
The United States President Donald Trump stated that he wanted to end the war and showed his frustration towards Ukraine and Kyiv. In March 2025, Ukraine agreed on Trump’s ceasefire plan but Russia rejected. Both countries agreed to limit the strikes on energy targets and sea, which both accused each other of violating.
Kyiv and its European allies blame Moscow for rejecting Trump’s ceasefire proposal in March, and they want to persuade Washington to adopt a stronger stance. They pressed the case until Russia attacked in the city of sumy in which the civilians, including Ukrainian worshippers were killed on April 13, 2025.
