Zelensky, Macron call with European leaders after Ukraine-US peace deal talks
Editor's note: The story was updated with additional details.
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Paris on Dec. 1 to hold discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders on Ukraine's path toward peace.
The visit follows talks between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Florida, as Kyiv seeks to negotiate better conditions in the Washington-backed peace deal.
Macron's office said last week that the two presidents would discuss "the conditions of a just and durable peace." Suspilne reported that the presidents would also visit the production facilities of the French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.
After landing in Paris, accompanied by First Lady Olena Zelenska, the Ukrainian president met Macron at the Elysee Palace for discussions that lasted several hours and focused "on negotiations to end the war and on security guarantees," Zelensky said.
"Peace must become truly durable. The war must end as soon as possible," Zelensky said on X.
The Ukrainian leader and Macron later held a call with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov on the outcomes of the discussions in Florida.
"It was an important briefing, and we agreed to discuss more details in person — our teams will coordinate schedules for possible further contacts," Zelensky added.
Umerov, who met Witkoff on Nov. 30 and then again the following day, said the two sides achieved "significant progress, although some issues need further work."
Macron and Zelensky also held a call with the leaders of Germany, Poland, Italy, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, as well as top EU and NATO officials, and a U.K. national security advisor.
Speaking at a press conference, Zelensky acknowledged that territory remains the "most difficult" issue, but noted that the revised peace plan already "looks better."
"And when it comes to security guarantees — we need clear specifics from the U.S. and Europe," the president said.
Speaking beside Zelensky, Macron told reporters that "in the weeks to come, the pressure on the Russian economy... will drastically change," referring to the recent EU and U.S. sanctions on Moscow.
The latest trip marks Zelensky's 10th visit to France since the outbreak of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 and the second one in recent weeks.
The Ukrainian president previously met Macron on Nov. 17 to sign an agreement on potential major arms purchases, including 100 Dassault Rafale fighter jets to bolster Ukraine's Air Force.
Paris has been a key backer of Ukraine since 2022, providing fighter jets, artillery, and long-range missiles, and being one of the leading players in the so-called "Coalition of the Willing."
The coalition was established earlier this year to ensure security guarantees for Ukraine to deter further Russian aggression, including by potentially deploying troops on the ground after the war.
At the press conference, Macron announced that the coalition has completed its work on the long-debated security guarantees. Further discussions with U.S. officials on the guarantees are expected to follow.
Ukraine finds itself in an increasingly challenging situation in the war, grappling with a corruption scandal that led to the resignation of Zelensky's top aide, Andriy Yermak, and facing pressure from the U.S. to conclude a swift and potentially unfavorable peace agreement.
European leaders have been scrambling to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan, which, in its original form, would see Ukraine cede territory, give up on its NATO aspirations, and limit its military size.
The plan has since been revised during talks between Ukrainian, U.S., and European officials in Geneva on Nov. 23, and further refined in Florida to make it more palatable to Kyiv. Witkoff is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Dec. 2 to continue talks on the deal with the Russian side.
Zelensky praised the talks in Florida as "constructive" but said there "are some tough issues that still have to be worked through."
"Our representatives will return to Europe in the coming days, and after speaking with them and receiving a full report on how the negotiations went, we will decide on our further activities," he added.
