Overview

• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are in Paris for high-level talks with European leaders and Ukrainian officials on ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
• The discussions aim to align on a ceasefire proposal, explore a European-led 'coalition of the willing' for post-truce security, and address U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations.
• French President Emmanuel Macron and Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot are hosting separate meetings with Rubio and Witkoff, alongside UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and German counterparts.
• Ukraine's delegation, led by Andriy Yermak, is advocating for firm security guarantees and rejecting territorial concessions in any peace agreement.
• The talks follow Witkoff's recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with progress on a peace deal still uncertain as Russia continues its strikes on Ukrainian cities.