Overview

• Marco Rubio and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff are in Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on advancing a ceasefire in Ukraine.
• The meetings occur against the backdrop of continued Russian offensives, including a deadly strike on Dnipro that killed three people, including a child, just hours before Rubio's arrival.
• Ukrainian delegation leader Andriï Iermak and two ministers are also in Paris to participate in discussions, emphasizing Ukraine's demand for stronger international security guarantees.
• French Foreign Minister Barrot condemned recent Russian attacks, including the Soumy bombing that killed 35 civilians, and called for greater pressure on Vladimir Putin.
• The visit coincides with ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman, with the next round scheduled for April 19, highlighting the Trump administration's broader diplomatic agenda.