Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior U.S. diplomat Marco Rubio are set to meet with European counterparts in Paris on Thursday to discuss renewed efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The high-level talks, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, will also include Ukraine’s foreign and defense ministers, who have arrived in the French capital to participate. This marks the most significant transatlantic diplomatic engagement on the conflict since February.
European officials say they plan to press the United States to take a firmer stance toward Russia in order to push for an unconditional ceasefire. “We want the U.S. to use a bit more stick,” one European diplomat said.
The push for a ceasefire follows a series of deadly Russian attacks. Just days ago, a missile strike in the Ukrainian city of Sumy killed at least 35 people and injured 117. Earlier this month, a separate Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih claimed 18 lives in a residential area.
In the latest overnight assault, Ukrainian authorities reported that a Russian drone strike on the city of Dnipro killed three people, including a young girl.
The Paris talks are expected to focus on coordinating Western pressure and support for Ukraine amid a volatile and worsening humanitarian crisis.
