This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93g12g38n4o

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Ukraine war: US to hold talks in Paris with Europeans Ukraine war: Zelensky urges US and Europe to "pressure" Russia to end war
(about 5 hours later)
Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and top diplomat Marco Rubio will hold talks with European counterparts in Paris later on Thursday to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff discussed how to reignite stalled talks on a ceasefire in Ukraine
Ukraine's foreign minister and defence minister have arrived in the French capital to take part in the discussions. Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and top diplomat Marco Rubio have met with their European and Ukrainian counterparts in Paris to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The talks, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, form the highest level of transatlantic engagement about the war since February. The talks, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, formed the highest level of transatlantic engagement about the war since February.
European diplomats have said they will urge the US to put more pressure on Russia to agree an unconditional ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged those at the meeting to put "pressure" on Russia to agree to a ceasefire, as "Russia uses every day and every night to kill".
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the talks, claiming European leaders were focused on "continuing the war".
The day of talks began with a lunchtime meeting at Elysée Palace between Macron, Witkoff and US Secretary of State Rubio.
The US delegation then met Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, as well as the national security advisors for Germany and the UK, the French presidency said.
Separate meetings between the respective nations' foreign ministers and defence ministers also took place.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said they had "discussed the paths to a fair and lasting peace, including full ceasefire, multinational contingent, and security guarantees for Ukraine".
Ahead of the talks, European diplomats had said they would urge the US to pressure Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire.
"We want the US to use a bit more stick," one official said."We want the US to use a bit more stick," one official said.
Ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire come days after a Russian missile attack killed at least 35 people and injured 117 in the Ukrainian city of Sumy. The US State Department had said the focus would be on how to end the fighting in Ukraine, and that Witkoff would report on his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that took place last week.
Earlier this month, at least 18 people died in a strike on a residential area in Kryvyi Rih. Macron's office had said the purpose of the talks was to "review progress on peace negotiations aimed at ending the Russian aggression in Ukraine".
The talks took place after an overnight strike on Ukraine that killed three civilians
Officials renewed their push for a ceasefire days after a Russian missile attack killed at least 35 people and injured 117 in the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
A week prior, another Russian strike on a residential area in Kryvyi Rih killed at least 18 people.
Overnight on Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities said a Russian drone attack on the city of Dnipro killed three people, including a young girl.Overnight on Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities said a Russian drone attack on the city of Dnipro killed three people, including a young girl.
How Russia is seizing Ukrainian homes in MariupolHow Russia is seizing Ukrainian homes in Mariupol
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Witkoff will join meetings at the Elysée Palace attended by Macron, the UK's national security advisor Jonathan Powell, as well as other European national security advisers. Following the meeting last week between Witkoff and Putin in St Petersburg, the US envoy said the Russian president was open to "permanent peace".
There will also be a separate meeting of foreign ministers, which UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is expected to attend. The statement comes after Moscow rejected a proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire that had been agreed by the US and Ukraine last month.
The US State Department said the focus would be on how to end the fighting in Ukraine, and that Witkoff would report on his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said "we are working on important issues for the security of Ukraine and the whole of Europe".
When asked about the talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said European leaders were focussed on "continuing the war".
In May 2023, prior to returning to the White House, Trump said he would be able to settle the war between Russia and Ukraine "in 24 hours".In May 2023, prior to returning to the White House, Trump said he would be able to settle the war between Russia and Ukraine "in 24 hours".
His administration has taken action to drastically improve relations with Moscow, while seeking to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.His administration has taken action to drastically improve relations with Moscow, while seeking to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Zelensky previously warned Ukraine would not accept a peace deal if his country was not involved any such agreement. On Thursday, Russia's top economic negotiator claimed that some countries were trying to "derail" Moscow's talks with Washington.
"There are a lot of people, structures, countries trying to disrupt our dialogue with the United States," Kirill Dmitriev said.
Zelensky had previously warned Ukraine would not accept a peace deal if his country was not involved in negotiations for any such agreement.
Tensions between Trump and Zelensky have been high since a heated confrontation at the White House in February, where the US leader chided Ukraine's president for not starting peace talks with Russia earlier.Tensions between Trump and Zelensky have been high since a heated confrontation at the White House in February, where the US leader chided Ukraine's president for not starting peace talks with Russia earlier.
Follow the twists and turns of Trump's second term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher's weekly US Politics Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.Follow the twists and turns of Trump's second term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher's weekly US Politics Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.