Transatlantic dialogue in Paris: US and European officials seek unity on Ukraine and Iran
Department of Research, Studies and International News 17-04-2025
High-level discussions are set to take place in Paris this Thursday as senior officials from Donald Trump’s national security team meet with European leaders to address the ongoing war in Ukraine and growing tensions with Iran.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff will lead the American delegation. They are scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and key German officials to explore avenues for diplomatic cooperation, particularly in response to the continued Russian aggression in Ukraine and the risk of a broader conflict with Iran.
Despite efforts by Washington, a ceasefire in Ukraine remains elusive more than three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak confirmed his arrival in Paris, alongside Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, to meet with officials from France, Germany, the UK, and the US.
The diplomatic urgency is heightened by President Trump’s increasing dissatisfaction with both Moscow and Kyiv, coupled with threats of potential military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. European officials have expressed alarm over Trump’s critical stance toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as his apparent attempts to reopen dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski recently voiced hopes that the Trump administration would recognize Putin’s actions as disingenuous, following a fatal missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy by Russian forces.
Although no detailed agenda has been publicly released, discussions are expected to touch on a range of issues. France, Britain, and Germany have been working to coordinate their positions, particularly on proposals to establish a European-led stabilization force for Ukraine should a ceasefire materialize, though such an initiative would likely require US backing.
In addition to meeting Macron, Rubio is expected to hold talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot concerning Ukraine, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and broader Middle East policy. Witkoff will later travel to Rome for further discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The two had already met in Oman, with both sides describing those talks as constructive but still far from yielding an agreement.
Amid these developments, Trump has reiterated his willingness to take military action against Iran if diplomatic efforts fail, underscoring the stakes of this week’s transatlantic negotiations.
