Ukraine Talks in France: Selensky Calls for Increased Pressure on Russian Aggressors

Negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine are set to take place in Paris on Thursday, with the United States and France leading the discussions. In an unexpected development, Ukrainian negotiators have also arrived in the French capital. The head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, announced on social media that he is accompanied by Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umierov. The Ukrainian delegation is scheduled to hold multiple bilateral meetings with representatives from the 'Coalition of the Willing'.

Emmanuel Bonne, an advisor to the French President, welcomed the Ukrainian representatives at the Élysée Palace on Thursday morning. Later, French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. special advisor Steve Witkoff for discussions around the conflict. This marks Rubio's third official visit to Europe following a NATO meeting and the Munich Security Conference.

In the afternoon, further discussions involving Ukraine, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, as well as Rubio and Witkoff, are planned at the Élysée. These talks will primarily focus on the efforts of the U.S. government to bring an end to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has persisted since 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for heightened pressure on Russian forces, which he referred to as 'killers', in order to expedite an end to the war. He emphasized the need for action to ensure a lasting peace, stating that Russia is using every moment to inflict harm.

Despite the ongoing negotiations, the White House has indicated that President Putin has shown a willingness to pursue peace, although tangible progress in talks has been scarce. While Zelensky advocates for a comprehensive ceasefire, Putin has consistently rejected this notion, demanding instead a minimal agreement that includes a 30-day moratorium on strikes against energy installations, which is set to expire today amid mutual accusations of violations.

In contrast to the U.S. stance, which appears to lean towards applying pressure on Ukraine, European nations, particularly France and the United Kingdom, aim to bolster Ukraine's position before any negotiations take place. They are committed to providing military support to Ukraine, with discussions about future security arrangements involving European soldiers to assist Ukraine outside of active conflict zones. However, Moscow has firmly opposed any potential deployment of European troops, especially from NATO countries, within Ukraine. European leaders, however, remain hesitant to proceed without U.S. backing for their mission.

Tragically, the conflict continues to take a toll on civilians. On Thursday morning, a Russian drone strike in the industrial city of Dnipro resulted in the deaths of at least three individuals, including a child. Additionally, two fatalities were reported from Russian artillery shelling in the southern Ukrainian city of Nikopol, alongside several injuries. The Russian military has been consistently targeting Nikopol from positions across the Dnipro River.

According to local authorities, the victims in Dnipro included a young girl and an elderly woman, with numerous others reported injured. The strikes have led to multiple fires and significant damage to residential and commercial structures, including a student dormitory and a food factory. Ukrainian air defense reported intercepting 25 out of 75 drones involved in the attack, though the fate of the remaining drones and rockets remains unclear.