Zelensky of Ukraine seeks support in Paris amid Trump's plan

President Volodymyr Zelensky met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday to strengthen European support for Ukraine as the country navigates a critical phase in its fight against the Russian invasion. The discussions at the Elysee Palace come as the United States advances a peace proposal, though European nations have expressed concerns that it might concede too much to Moscow.

The diplomatic efforts are complicated by a recent corruption scandal in Zelenskys administration, which led to the dismissal last week of his chief of staff and top negotiator, Andriy Yermak. On the battlefield, Ukraine continues to face mounting pressure as Russian forces press their offensive, more than three and a half years into the conflict.

In Florida, US and Ukrainian negotiators spent hours in discussions described as productive by both sides. Speaking from Air Force One, former US President Donald Trump said, "there's a good chance we can make a deal." Macron noted on social media that the peace efforts continue, while Zelensky called his talks in the US very constructive and emphasized that decisions on Ukraines next steps would follow a full debriefing of the delegation.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas commented on the potential significance of the week, noting the complexity of the negotiations. The US initially proposed a 28-point plan to halt the conflict, which was criticized for reflecting Russias maximalist territorial demands, including Ukrainian withdrawal from Donetsk and implicit recognition of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk as Russian territories. After criticism from Kyiv and European partners, the US revised the proposal, though details remain undisclosed.

In a recent article for the Telegraph, former Ukrainian armed forces chief Valery Zaluzhny, now ambassador to London, painted a grim picture of Ukraines position. He warned that rushed peace without security guarantees, such as NATO membership, could jeopardize Ukraines independence, suggesting the war could persist under Russias aim of erasing Ukraine as a sovereign state.

Meanwhile, Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled for discussions in Moscow, expected to cover Ukraine with President Vladimir Putin. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Florida talks as productive but stressed that further negotiations are required, highlighting the complexity of involving multiple parties.

The conflict continues to take a heavy toll, with tens of thousands of civilians and military personnel killed and millions displaced. On Monday, a Russian missile strike in Dnipro killed four people and injured nearly two dozen others, leaving buildings damaged and vehicles destroyed, as shown in local emergency response images.

Zelensky is scheduled to make his first official visit to Ireland on Tuesday, which, although not a NATO member, will assume the rotating EU presidency in the second half of 2026.

Analysis: Ukraine’s Diplomatic Balancing Act

From my perspective, President Zelensky’s meetings with Macron in Paris highlight the delicate position Ukraine occupies as it seeks European support amid intensifying Russian military pressure. The timing is critical, coming alongside US-led peace initiatives that face scrutiny for potentially conceding too much to Moscow.

The recent dismissal of Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, underscores the internal challenges in Kyiv, particularly regarding governance and negotiation credibility. On the diplomatic front, discussions in Florida with US negotiators appear cautiously productive, yet the lack of public details about revised proposals leaves uncertainty about the scope and viability of any peace plan.

European partners remain wary of proposals that might compromise Ukraine’s sovereignty, reflecting a broader concern that rushed agreements without robust security guarantees could undermine long-term stability. Meanwhile, the ongoing Russian offensive, evidenced by the recent missile strike in Dnipro, demonstrates that the conflict’s human and infrastructural toll continues unabated.

Zelensky’s upcoming visit to Ireland signals a continued effort to consolidate EU support, even from non-NATO members, emphasizing that Ukraine’s diplomatic strategy must navigate both security imperatives and European political dynamics simultaneously.

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• Ukraine's Zelensky in Paris seeking support as Trump pushes plan