Zelenskyy meets Macron as US-led peace talks advance
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday, continuing a series of high-level diplomatic engagements focused on shaping the terms of a possible ceasefire in the nearly four-year war.
The talks at the Elysée Palace came a day after Ukrainian and U.S. officials met in Florida, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio described discussions as productive. Those meetings centred on revising a draft U.S. peace proposal developed in talks between Washington and Moscow, but criticised for favouring Russian demands.
European partners have been among the strongest critics of the draft, cautioning that any agreement must not undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty or security. While welcoming U.S. efforts, they raised concerns about several provisions, including restrictions on Ukraine’s military capabilities and concessions on territorial control. Before hosting Zelenskyy, Macron’s office said the meeting would focus on ensuring conditions for a “fair and lasting peace,” signalling France’s insistence on a balanced settlement.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has sought to downplay the 28-point framework, describing it as merely a concept still subject to adjustment. The proposal, in its current form, would limit Ukraine’s army size, block NATO membership and require territorial compromises, points Kyiv and several European capitals strongly contest.
