In a significant diplomatic push, Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and top Republican senator Marco Rubio are holding high-level talks with European leaders in Paris today, aiming to reinvigorate stalled efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The talks mark the most prominent transatlantic engagement on the conflict since February and come amid growing frustration in European capitals over what some see as Washington’s recent reluctance to coordinate closely with its allies.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is also attending the discussions, which are expected to include meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and senior officials from France and Germany. National security advisers from across Europe are participating as well.
The US delegation is expected to provide an update on Witkoff’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A statement from the US State Department said the focus of Thursday’s meetings would be “how to bring an end to hostilities in Ukraine,” with particular emphasis on ceasefire negotiations and potential diplomatic off-ramps.
European diplomats are urging the US to take a firmer stance. “We want the US to use a bit more stick,” one senior European official said, emphasizing the need for Washington to increase pressure on Moscow to agree to an unconditional ceasefire.
Rubio, known for his hawkish views on foreign policy, has reportedly taken a leading role in urging stronger US-European coordination. The presence of Witkoff, Trump’s personal appointee to the Ukraine file, signals the former president’s increased involvement in shaping international discussions ahead of the 2024 election.
While concrete outcomes from the Paris meetings remain uncertain, European officials say the fact that the talks are taking place at all is a step forward.
“This is the beginning of a long and difficult conversation,” one EU diplomat said. “But we have to start somewhere.”
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