Macron dismisses Russian demands as ‘coalition of the willing’ gathers in Paris for Ukraine talks

 

   From left, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, France's Emmanuel Macron and UK’s Keir Starmer speak on the sidelines of Thursday’s summit Photograph

French president rules out any lifting of sanctions and says European forces could be deployed to mark ‘clear support’

Leaders from approximately 30 countries—not only from Europe but also including Turkey, Canada, and others—are convening in Paris to solidify plans for supporting Ukraine in the event of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire or peace agreement. The meeting, organized by French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to refine discussions on potential long-term security guarantees for Ukraine while coordinating responses to key issues in U.S.-led negotiations, such as Russia’s controversial demand for sanctions relief.

Alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Macron firmly rejected any Russian influence over Western support for Ukraine, stating, *“Russia shall have no right of say regarding the support we are providing and will provide Ukraine, nor shall they set the conditions.”* He criticized Moscow for escalating its list of demands and emphasized Europe’s commitment to Ukraine’s defense. Macron suggested that European troops could be deployed to key strategic locations as a clear signal of solidarity, though he warned that any Russian aggression would be met with a decisive response.

The French leader also dismissed the possibility of easing sanctions, calling it *“much too early”* for such concessions. *“Ultimately, sanctions depend solely on Russia’s choice of aggression, and therefore, their lifting depends solely on Russia’s choice to comply with international law,”* he asserted.

Notably absent from the talks is the United States, which has expressed skepticism about the Franco-British initiative. Last week, former President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, dismissed the proposal as *“a combination of a posture and a pose… and also being simplistic.”*

The summit at the Élysée Palace is set to begin shortly, with the main session starting at 10 AM CET (9 AM GMT). Discussions are expected to last two to three hours, followed by press conferences. Stay tuned for live updates on key developments as they unfold.