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Lammy, Rubio and Witkoff to discuss Ukraine war and Iran with Europeans in Paris talks US officials to meet European leaders in Paris to discuss Ukraine war
(about 1 hour later)
UK foreign secretary to join Trump envoys and Emmanuel Macron to hear European concerns about Russia and elusive truce Trump envoys to meet Macron as well as British and German politicians to discuss concerns about Russia
David Lammy, the UK foreign secretary, is expected to attend talks on Ukraine and Iran on Thursday with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and Donald Trump’s envoys Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff. Two of Donald Trump’s top national security aides will hold talks in Paris on Thursday with European politicians and security advisers, as the US and Europe search for common ground on ending the Ukraine war and averting an Iran conflict.
Rubio, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and Witkoff, a special envoy, are due in Paris to hear European foreign ministers’ concerns about Russia amid so-far fruitless US attempts to arrange a ceasefire in Ukraine, while Britain and France are forming a “coalition of the willing” that would back the Ukrainian side in maintaining a truce. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, are expected to hear concerns about Russia amid so-far fruitless US attempts to arrange a ceasefire three years after Russia invaded its neighbour.
The Telegraph and the BBC reported Lammy’s attendance. The US president’s frustration with Russia and Ukraine over the war has been growing and he has been threatening military action against Iranian nuclear facilities. Rubio and Witkoff will meet the French president, Emmanuel Macron, as well as British and German figures, including the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy.
The US president’s frustration with Russia and Ukraine over the war has been increasing and he has been threatening military action against Iranian nuclear facilities.
European leaders have grown more concerned as Trump has heaped pressure and criticism on Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while instead making diplomatic gestures to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.European leaders have grown more concerned as Trump has heaped pressure and criticism on Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while instead making diplomatic gestures to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
The Polish foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, said on Monday that he hoped Trump and his administration would see that Putin was “mocking their goodwill” following Moscow’s deadly missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy. The Polish foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, said on Monday that he hoped Trump and his administration would see that Putin was “mocking their goodwill” after Moscow’s deadly missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
Besides Macron, the French foreign ministry said Rubio would also meet his French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot, to discuss Ukraine, prospects for a new Iran nuclear deal and the Middle East. No specific proposals for the talks have been made public.
Witkoff plans to fly on to Rome for a second round of discussions on Saturday with the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, about Iran’s nuclear programme. They met for 45 minutes last Saturday in Oman. Both sides described those talks as positive while acknowledging any potential deal remained distant. France, Britain and Germany were surprised by Trump opening discussions on improving ties with Russia, but have sought a coordinated European response to protecting Ukraine during the conflict and in any ceasefire.
Trump said on Monday he was willing to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities if a deal was not reached. On Tuesday he held a meeting with top national security advisers at the White House focused on Iran’s nuclear programme, according to sources familiar with the encounter. Britain and France have proposed a mainly European “reassurance” force prepared to go to Ukraine if a ceasefire starts. However, many European leaders say it would need US support.
The US had not told European countries about the nuclear talks in Oman before Trump announced them, even though they hold a key card on the possible reimposition of UN sanctions on Tehran. Thursday’s talks will be a key opportunity for potential coordination between US and Europe. Besides Macron, the French foreign ministry said Rubio would also meet his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, to discuss Ukraine, prospects for a new Iran nuclear deal and the Middle East.
Witkoff plans to fly on to Rome for a second round of discussions on Saturday with the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, about Iran’s nuclear programme. They met for 45 minutes in Oman on Saturday. Both sides described those talks as positive while acknowledging any potential deal remained distant.
Trump said on Monday he was willing to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities if a deal was not reached.
On Tuesday, he held a meeting with top national security advisers at the White House focused on Iran’s nuclear programme, according to sources familiar with the encounter.
The US had not told European countries about the nuclear talks in Oman before Trump announced them, even though they hold a key card on the possible reimposition of UN sanctions on Tehran.
Thursday’s talks will be an opportunity for potential coordination between US and Europe.
Trump has restored a “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran since February after ditching a 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six world powers during his first term and reimposed crippling sanctions on the Islamic republic.Trump has restored a “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran since February after ditching a 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six world powers during his first term and reimposed crippling sanctions on the Islamic republic.
Trump said on Monday he believed Iran was intentionally delaying a nuclear deal with the US and that it must abandon any drive for a nuclear weapon or face a possible military strike on atomic facilities.Trump said on Monday he believed Iran was intentionally delaying a nuclear deal with the US and that it must abandon any drive for a nuclear weapon or face a possible military strike on atomic facilities.
With ReutersWith Reuters