European leaders demonstrated a united front of support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, as diplomatic efforts to revise a US-backed peace proposal intensified. This push comes alongside a critical visit by a US special envoy to Moscow for direct talks with the Kremlin.
European Solidarity in Paris
President Zelenskyy received a warm welcome in Paris from French President Emmanuel Macron. The two leaders later participated in a conference call with about a dozen other European heads of state and government, including those from Britain, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the European Union. Following their meeting, Zelenskyy addressed a joint press conference, outlining Kyiv's non-negotiable priorities for any peace negotiations.
He stated that Ukraine's sovereignty and robust security guarantees were paramount, while acknowledging that territorial issues remained the most complex challenge. Zelenskyy urged Ukraine's Western allies to ensure Russia gains no rewards from the war it initiated. He also expressed hope for future discussions with US President Donald Trump, following the ongoing mission of Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Echoing a core principle of international law, President Macron asserted that only Ukraine has the right to decide on matters concerning its territory in any future peace talks with Russia.
Shrouded Diplomacy and Moscow Mission
President Zelenskyy clarified that Ukrainian and American negotiators have not yet finalized revisions to the proposed US peace plan. This plan, presented to Kyiv less than two weeks ago, initially contained terms that endorsed Russia's wartime demands. Two rounds of talks have been held to adjust these terms, hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a venue in Florida.
Despite progress, the specific amendments agreed upon so far have not been made public. In a significant move, US envoy Steve Witkoff has now travelled to Moscow, where he is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. This direct engagement marks a pivotal moment in the diplomatic flurry.
War on the Ground and EU Concerns
While diplomacy continues, the war rages on. Russia has shown no signs of softening its maximalist demands. Its armed forces claimed the capture of another settlement, Klynove, in the eastern Donetsk region. Meanwhile, Russian missile strikes continue to target Ukrainian cities.
On Monday, a missile attack on car repair shops in the central city of Dnipro killed at least four people and wounded 40. Russia's ongoing campaign of long-range strikes, often aimed at energy infrastructure, has plunged many Ukrainians into cold and darkness during winter. Ukraine has responded with its own long-range attacks targeting Russian oil export facilities, which the Kremlin denounced on Monday.
The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, voiced significant concern about the diplomatic pressure on Kyiv. She warned that pushing Ukraine into an unbalanced peace deal would only encourage further Russian aggression. Kallas emphasized that the coming week of talks could be "pivotal" for the future of the conflict, stressing that all pressure must not fall solely on the weaker side, Ukraine.
