This month, French President Emmanuel Macron received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris “at a crucial moment for peace in Ukraine and Europe,” as he put it. The two leaders, who met each other for the second time in 15 days, talked about the peace plan presented by the EE UU and security guarantees for Kyiv in the post-war scenario. This is the tenth visit of the Ukrainian president since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which took place when Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Moscow to see Mars with Vladimir Putin and try to advance peace negotiations.
Appearing with Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron questioned Moscow’s willingness to reach an agreement, recalling that “the moment we talk about peace, Russia continues to kill and destroy,” referring to recent drone attacks in Dnipro. “It is an insult and an obstacle to peace,” Sinyalo.
Macron wants to claim Europe’s role at a time when talks between the United States and Russia are accelerating towards a possible agreement, on the basis of a 28-point plan presented by Washington a few weeks ago that will include the transfer of territory to Kiev.
Therefore, Macron noted that although “EE UU has taken on the role of mediator,” peace terms cannot be negotiated “without the Ukrainians and without the Europeans,” and warned that “only Ukraine can discuss its territory, because it belongs to it.”
“Russia must pay the price for starting this war as an aggressor,” Zelensky noted. “We must end this war in a dignified way and preserve Ukraine’s independence,” the president said, acknowledging that “the regional part is the most difficult” in facing negotiations. He warned that if an agreement is reached, it must be ensured that “Russia does not have the impression that it is getting a reward for this war.”
Macron received Zelensky in the early hours of the morning and then they had lunch together. In addition to discussing the American plan, the talks focused on the work being done within the framework of the Volunteer Alliance, the group that includes more than three hundred countries ready to provide security guarantees to Kiev when the war ends. This work, according to Macron, has been “completed” with the European allies.
It was initially supposed to be a bilateral meeting, but it ultimately ended up including European leaders. After the meal, which lasted for several hours, the two leaders spoke by telephone with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German broadcaster Friedrich Merz, as well as with the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO.
They also spoke with Steve Witkoff, who will meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow this month to try to advance peace negotiations. His last visit to Moscow was last August. “I applaud the mediation efforts undertaken by the EE UU,” Macron said, also noting that after the meeting this month “it will be made clear whether Russia has the will to move forward.” Moreover, remember that the American plan “is not currently a complete plan.”
The Ukrainian president’s last visit to Paris was just two weeks ago, when Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron concluded a historic defense agreement for Kiev, which included the purchase of 100 Rafale fighters. A few days later, the French announced the creation of a new volunteer military service, to expand the military reserve in the face of Russian threats and the possibility of an escalation of the conflict.
This year, Zelensky will make his first official trip to Ireland, a country that is not part of NATO and has not supported Kiev militarily. This month’s visit comes at a sensitive moment for the Ukrainian president, following the recent reversal of his prime minister and top leader, Andriy Ermak, who is allegedly involved in a kickback and cash-filing network. When asked about this, Macron refused to “give lessons to Ukraine” on the issue of corruption.