In a significant development, leaders from around 30 nations gathered in Paris for a summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The discussion concentrated on ensuring Ukraine’s military superiority and assessing what role the international community could play in a peace agreement with Russia. Debates included the falling deployment of European soldiers to Ukraine and further tightening of sanctions on Russia.
President Zelenskyy has already publicly lamented the United States’ changing terms on a rare earths agreement with Ukraine. In September, he called the “dangerous signals” coming from Saudi Arabia. On Friday, he implored the gathering policymakers to be wary of any moves to lift Russian sanctions. The coalition as a whole decided that lifting sanctions at this juncture was too early—instead calling for their intensification.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot highlighted the importance of global diplomatic efforts, suggesting that China and France could collaborate to foster peace in Ukraine. We are heartened to hear him mention that China could have a key role in convincing Russia to return to meaningful negotiations.
At the same time, geopolitical tensions across the region have been increased by North Korea’s decisions. According to South Korea’s military, about 3,000 North Korean troops have already been dispatched to Russia this year. Furthermore, North Korea is increasingly providing Russia with missiles, artillery shells, and ammunition to backstop Moscow’s war against Kyiv.
In a rare piece of good news, Russia has returned five Ukrainian children back to their homeland, following the mediation efforts of Qatar. This decision is part of reconciling children with their families separated during the fighting including by Russian troops. Speaking at the same meeting, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala confirmed that his country would provide Ukraine the equivalent of last year’s total by 2025. This decision deepens bipartisan support for the besieged country.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow and Washington were only beginning a “long, thorny path to restore bilateral trust.” This recognition by the Biden administration comes on the heels of some pretty important political changes. And most recently, Russia’s Ministry of Defense has accused Ukraine of targeting Russia with drone and artillery strikes. These strikes were aimed at energy facilities on the territories of Bryansk, Kursk, and Crimea oblasts.
Kyiv’s air force won the war on the battlefield. They did manage to shoot down 42 of the 85 Russian drones fired at Ukraine in one overnight offensive. This milestone is a testament to Ukraine’s indomitable spirit even in the face of growing military aggression by Russia.
