Europeans, Ukrainians to make their case as Rubio and Witkoff visit Paris

17/4/2025 16:17

Top Ukrainian officials flew on Thursday for a previously unannounced visit to Paris, where Europeans were assembling to plead Kyiv's case to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff.



The high level diplomacy reflects Europe's mounting concern over the U.S. administration's overtures towards Moscow, after the failure so far of Trump's efforts to arrange a ceasefire in the three-year-old Russia-Ukraine war. The U.S. officials were also due to discuss nuclear talks with Iran during their visit to Paris.



Trump, who has long said he aims to swiftly end the Ukraine war, has indicated he is frustrated with both Moscow and Kyiv, even as his administration has shifted U.S. rhetoric towards accommodating the Russian account of the conflict.



Ukraine agreed to a Trump proposal last month for a ceasefire which Russia rejected. The sides have agreed only to curbs on attacks against energy targets and at sea, which both accuse each other of violating.



Kyiv and its European allies say Moscow is to blame for rejecting Trump's proposal of a ceasefire last month, and are hoping to persuade Washington to take a tougher line.