Coalition Leaders Plan New Meeting to Push for Ukraine Truce Amid Ongoing Conflict
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that leaders of the coalition supporting Ukraine will convene next week in Paris, with the aim of finalizing plans to achieve a potential truce in the ongoing war with Russia. This meeting will include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and comes on the heels of talks held by Kyiv and Moscow in Saudi Arabia, along with United States participation on Monday.
Macron's announcement follows a series of important military discussions that recently took place in London, which involved high-ranking officials from the so-called coalition of the willing supporting Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated that strategies for enforcing a possible ceasefire are being formulated, as U.S. President Donald Trump talks to Russia about concluding its military actions in Ukraine.
Macron, who has expressed willingness to deploy troops to Ukraine, emphasized that the upcoming meeting would serve as an opportunity to refine efforts to establish a sustainable truce.
Conversely, Zelensky conveyed his concerns in an EU summit, stating that despite the discussions with Trump to cease strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities, bombings by Russian forces have not abated. He urged Moscow to stop its unnecessary demands that prolong the conflict and called on the EU to enhance military aid and maintain sanctions against Russia.
EU leaders, in a joint statement—without the support of Russia-friendly Hungary—agreed to increase military assistance to Ukraine. However, they refrained from providing approval for a request Zelensky advocated, pushed by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, for a €5 billion ($5.4 billion) military aid package, facing pushback from nations like France and Italy.
In Norway, Zelensky indicated that U.S. and Ukrainian officials would continue their negotiations in Saudi Arabia to advance U.S.-led efforts aimed at ending the Russian invasion, which is now in its fourth year. The Kremlin confirmed that Russian officials would also participate in these discussions.
Despite talks about a potential 30-day pause on attacks against energy infrastructure by both Zelensky and Putin, fighting continues unabated, with both sides reporting fresh drone strikes. Uncertainty remains regarding the specifics of a lasting peace negotiation.
Meanwhile, Trump, whose overtures to Putin have created apprehension among European and NATO allies, suggested the U.S. could manage Ukraine's power plants. However, Zelensky responded skeptically, emphasizing that he could not legally negotiate ownership of the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Trump also reintroduced discussions about a deal for access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, which he is urging Kyiv to sign, claiming significant American commitment in the near future.
In terms of defense, the United States is contemplating support for Ukraine's acquisition of additional air defense systems to counter Russia's missile threats. Following a meeting, Zelensky requested Trump’s assistance to obtain U.S.-made Patriot missile systems to supplement the support already provided by the U.S., Germany, and Romania.
As European leaders remain anxious about Ukraine’s future, discussions continue around significantly increasing defense spending within the bloc. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cast doubt on the commitment of European governments, who are planning steep domestic defense budget increases, to truly ending the fighting.
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