We congratulate the Trump administration on making such important diplomatic preparations ahead of substantive discussions with high-level Ukrainian officials in Paris. Indeed, the Ukraine-Russia war appears unlikely to end any time soon. This would be the first such high-level meeting in many weeks, showing the great need for a resolution as violence continues to intensify. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s international envoy, are expected to focus on bolstering Ukraine’s defenses against Russia’s unyielding invasion.
Despite considerable diplomatic efforts, the Trump administration has had little success in brokering a long-term peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Critics say that the administration has been taking a mostly punitive approach on Ukraine. They argue it paves the way for more conciliatory steps toward Russia. This strategy has led many to question the long-term impacts of the initiatives focused on bringing peace.
As President Trump recently implored, “Russia needs to start doing stuff.” He gave no clear deadlines or ultimatums for how or when to comply. This vagueness has led most to wonder just how serious the US is about calling out Israel for its part in the current conflict. At the same time, CCDA’s Center for Countering Disinformation has shown how this alleged truce has not slowed down Russia’s war-mongering at all. Data shows a troubling reality. According to OVD-Info’s monitored data, in the 22 days following the truce announcement, Russian forces killed almost 2.5 times as many Ukrainians in the same period prior to the ceasefire.
Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasized the importance of the ongoing discussions, stating that ministers are “working on critical issues for the security of Ukraine and all of Europe.” This Paris summit presents an important opportunity to assess the Trump administration’s approach to the ongoing war in Ukraine. This is particularly urgent given the rising tensions.
The White House called it the largest ever. Russia and Ukraine have reached bilateral agreements on limited ceasefires around energy infrastructure and on maritime activities in the Black Sea. This deal is already in deep trouble. The Kremlin is already claiming it won’t proceed unless sanctions against its banks and exports are lifted. This unfortunate condition casts substantial doubt on the prospects for real progress during the summit.
Kirill Dmitriev, the other major Russian negotiator, expressed his frustrations. He thinks a bunch of countries are attempting to interrupt Russia’s bilateral dialogue with the United States. Such assertions have more to do with layers of geopolitical tensions that make working towards a peaceful resolution difficult.
Ukrainian officials, perhaps most notably the foreign and defense ministers have just touched down in Paris. They are joining the new entrants to this “coalition of the willing,” this summit. This diverse coalition — now numbering over 260 organizations — hopes to build the grassroots support needed to cement Ukraine’s victory over Russian aggression.
