According to the Associated Press, senior officials from Donald Trump’s administration are preparing to hold talks in Paris with European allies regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine. This week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff will arrive in the French capital to discuss pathways toward a peace agreement.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated on Wednesday that the officials will meet with European partners to advance Trump’s initiative to end the armed conflict and bring an end to the bloodshed. The visit will also include discussions on shared regional interests, she emphasized.
According to a statement from the Élysée Palace, French President Emmanuel Macron will personally meet with Rubio and Witkoff. In addition, the U.S. delegation will hold talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, with an agenda that includes not only the Ukraine crisis but also the situation in the Middle East and Iran’s nuclear program.
It was also reported that U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance will travel to Italy, where he is expected to meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who, in turn, will visit the White House on Thursday.
These meetings come amid growing concern among European allies about the Trump administration’s possible rapprochement with Moscow. Despite the U.S. continuing its efforts to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine, anxiety persists in many European capitals—fueled by Trump’s tough rhetoric on NATO and his trade policies, including tariffs imposed on close allies. Notably, Trump previously stirred tensions with provocative proposals such as purchasing Greenland.
Nevertheless, Trump’s team is actively engaging on the diplomatic front. Witkoff and Rubio have long been working to end hostilities, with several rounds of peace talks already held in Saudi Arabia. Notably, Witkoff personally met with Vladimir Putin last week—a major signal for diplomatic circles.
Despite last month’s agreement between Kyiv and Moscow on a temporary 30-day halt to strikes on energy infrastructure, Russia continues daily attacks. Both sides accuse each other of consistently violating the agreement. The core issue remains Moscow’s demand that Ukraine cease mobilization and halt Western arms deliveries—conditions Kyiv flatly rejects.
As such, Witkoff’s diplomatic mandate extends well beyond the Ukraine conflict. Over the weekend, he also held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, discussing the progress of Tehran’s nuclear program. According to reports, a new round of negotiations with Iran is expected this coming Saturday.
Amid global geopolitical instability and the risk of expanded armed conflicts, the Trump team’s efforts to secure agreements with Moscow, Kyiv, and Tehran are becoming a central focus of U.S. foreign policy. As noted by the Associated Press, the upcoming meetings in Paris and Rome may have a decisive impact on the future of diplomacy in Europe and the Middle East.
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