Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday as momentum grows around a US-led peace initiative. Meanwhile, in the US, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called weekend talks with a Ukrainian delegation “productive,” while noting that significant challenges remain.
At the same time, President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday. These diplomatic moves unfold as Ukraine faces mounting pressure on the battlefield in the east. (See related article: Russia’s battlefield claims questioned) Zelenskyy is also dealing with internal turmoil following a major corruption investigation that led to the resignation of his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.
The Ukrainian leader stressed that territorial issues within the US-backed plan are proving the hardest to resolve. Macron emphasised that no peace agreement can advance without strong European involvement. He noted that discussions on security guarantees are underway but that nothing has been formally agreed. Both leaders addressed questions about the corruption case, with Macron praising Ukraine’s willingness to act and contrasting it with Russia’s lack of accountability. They also highlighted increased international pressure on Moscow, including new EU sanctions and coordinated efforts with the United States.