Foreign Secretary David Lammy is due to arrive in Paris as part of the ongoing Ukraine peace talks Paris 2025, which bring together European leaders and senior figures from Donald Trump’s team. The high-level diplomatic engagement is focused on finding a resolution to the war in Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have made their way to the French capital to engage in discussions with European officials. Their presence signals a renewed push by the United States to cooperate with allies in facilitating a peace agreement.
This visit marks the UK’s continued commitment to diplomatic efforts surrounding the conflict. Working closely with France and Britain are playing a leading role in building a coalition of nations willing to support and secure any potential peace deal reached between Ukraine and Russia.
International Delegations Meet in Paris
Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, announced his arrival in Paris alongside Ukraine’s Foreign Minister and Defence Minister.
“As part of the visit, a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings are planned with representatives of countries from the coalition of the willing and able to guarantee security, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom,” he posted on X.
The US State Department confirmed that Mr Rubio and Mr Witkoff are participating in Paris meetings to promote President Trump’s goal of ending the conflict.
“While in Paris, he will also discuss ways to advance shared interests in the region,” the department said in a statement.
French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a private meeting with the US delegates. Additionally, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will engage with them in talks spanning the war in Ukraine, Middle East tensions, and Iran’s nuclear activities.
Devastation Continues as Peace Talks Progress
While world leaders gather for Ukraine peace talks in Paris 2025, Ukraine continues to endure violence. President Zelensky reported that a deadly drone strike struck the city of Dnipro overnight.
“Three people were killed and 28 injured by a strike, including four children,” Zelensky shared on X.
Local officials said the drones inflicted significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including an educational facility, a student dormitory, a gym, and numerous residential properties. Elsewhere, a separate attack in Odesa left three more people injured.
“Pressure must be applied to the killers, and life must be helped to stop this war and ensure a reliable peace,” Zelensky added.
It was a difficult night in Dnipro—a Russian drone strike hit the city. They targeted ordinary residential buildings, ordinary civilian infrastructure. The rubble is still being cleared. Currently, 16 people are in city hospitals; in total, 28 people were injured, including 4… pic.twitter.com/v8tNWP5Lf4
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 17, 2025
UK Reinforces Peacekeeping Commitment
Defence Secretary John Healey recently reaffirmed the UK’s proactive stance in planning for a long-term peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, calling the initiative “real and substantial”.
During a NATO-hosted session in Brussels with defence ministers from 30 countries forming the “coalition of the willing”, Mr Healey shared updates on the evolving plans.
“We advance the momentum of that planning here today, planning to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to protect its sovereignty and to deter any further Russian aggression. While today’s discussions will be private, our planning is real and substantial,” Healey stated.
