Macron to Host Zelenskyy in Paris for High-Stakes Ukraine Peace Talks

French President Emmanuel Macron will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris on Monday for critical talks aimed at advancing a US-driven plan to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, the Élysée Palace announced.

According to a statement, the two leaders will discuss “the conditions for a just and lasting peace, building on the Geneva discussions and the American plan, and in close consultation with our European partners.” The talks will also cover progress on security guarantees framed by the “coalition of the willing,” a group of 35 nations supporting Ukraine.

US Signals Deeper Involvement

Macron noted a key development last week when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined a meeting of the coalition for the first time — a move seen as signalling Washington’s readiness to offer security guarantees for postwar Ukraine, despite previous hesitation from President Donald Trump.

European governments are pushing for a robust US guarantee should other proposed deterrents — including strengthening Ukraine’s military or deploying an international peacekeeping force — fail to prevent future Russian aggression.

Tension Over US Peace Plan

Ukraine faces mounting pressure from Washington to accept a negotiated peace. The Trump administration’s initial 28-point proposal, criticised in Europe as overly favourable to Moscow, was revised after European negotiators arrived uninvited at US-Ukraine talks in Geneva on November 23.

However, the extent of Europe’s role in continued negotiations remains unclear. Rubio and US envoy Steve Witkoff met Ukrainian officials in Florida on Sunday, even as Kyiv’s chief negotiator Andriy Yermak resigned on Friday following a corruption scandal.

Europe Confronts Internal Divisions

The renewed diplomatic push has intensified EU efforts to overcome Belgium’s objections to using frozen Russian assets to back a $161 billion reparation loan for Ukraine — a key agenda item at the upcoming EU summit on December 18. Belgian leaders worry about potential Russian countermeasures in international courts.

Macron, Europe Reinforce Backing for Kyiv

France has worked closely with European partners to maintain strong support for Zelenskyy, who returned to Paris just two weeks after signing a major defence deal to acquire up to 100 Rafale jets, air-defence systems, drones, and precision-guided munitions.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told Tribune Dimanche that “Peace is within reach, if [Russian President] Vladimir Putin abandons the crazy hope of reconstituting the Soviet empire by starting with the subjugation of Ukraine.”

Praising Zelenskyy as a “hero,” Barrot insisted the Yermak corruption scandal must not derail ongoing negotiations. “As for corruption cases, they must be dealt with by the competent institutions, without interference with the peace process,” he said.

The Paris meeting now stands as one of the most consequential diplomatic moments since the conflict began — and could shape the future security architecture of Europe.