The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, received a boost to his negotiating position against Russia in Paris, gaining the support of his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, and other European leaders who reiterated that territorial issues must be decided by Kyiv.
As American mediation advances, on the eve of the U.S. special envoy's arrival in Russia, Zelenskyy insisted on the progress of the peace plan, amended by his envoys in Geneva, with territorial issues being its crucial point.
«This is the most difficult issue,» the Ukrainian president stated at a press conference alongside Macron at the Élysée Palace, where he called for not rewarding the aggressor in the peace negotiations.
«The plan is now better»
«Thanks to our team of negotiators, the plan is now better,» assured the Ukrainian leader, who this Friday will travel to Ireland and receive the latest updates from his envoys, who continue to negotiate with the U.S., now in Miami (Florida).
The initial plan proposed by the U.S. included the Russian demand that Ukraine cede the part of its Donbas region that it still controls, something Kyiv considers unacceptable.
«Ukraine is the only one that can decide on its territory,» Macron assured, in a speech similar to the one held by the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who also participated in the videoconference, along with the leaders of Poland, Italy, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and the Netherlands, as well as the leaders of the European Union and NATO.
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, advocated for a convergence between European and American positions and defended the «constructive» attitude of Zelenskyy.
The NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, who met with Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal in Brussels, reiterated NATO's «unwavering» commitment to Ukraine, which it strengthens with military aid «so that it can defend itself now and deter future aggressions» and its support for «ongoing efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace».
Zelenskyy also stressed the importance of Europeans being at the negotiating table, both because of the involvement the war has for them and for the role they will play in ensuring that peace is lasting and in the country's reconstruction, after nearly four years of war.
In this sense, Macron reported that the preliminary work of the so-called Coalition of Volunteers, thirty countries willing to oversee the peace plan after its adoption, has been completed, and now Europeans are advancing in the decision on the frozen Russian funds.
«That decision is up to us,» said the French president, who noted that at the next EU summit, the Commission's proposals will be examined to determine how these funds can be allocated to the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Preliminary phase
Macron, who stated that the peace plan is still «in a preliminary phase,» expressed many reservations about Russia's willingness to seek peace, which he considered must be clarified during the trip to Moscow of the U.S. envoy for Ukraine, Steve Witkoff, with whom they also held a videoconference from the Élysée.
«I support the mediation efforts of the United States and hope they get clear indications of Russia's willingness to achieve peace,» noted the French president, who believes that above words are the facts and the bombings continue on Ukrainian territory.
Macron recalled that this is not the first time Vladimir Putin has avoided progress towards a ceasefire, «three or four times they have already said no,» and for this reason he invited to «continue supporting Ukrainian resistance».
In this sense, he indicated that the EU is advancing in the adoption of the twentieth package of sanctions against Moscow, which he considered can «increase pressure on Russia so that it has less funds to finance the war».
«For the first time, we have a comprehensive approach regarding sanctions,» indicated the French president, who confirmed that to the embargo on oil exports, to which the United States has also associated itself, has now been added the fight against the ghost fleet that allows it to be bypassed.
Zelenskyy, who was arriving in Paris for the second time in fifteen days, with his internal position somewhat weakened by the resignation of his right-hand man Andriy Yermak, accused of corruption, did not want to name his replacement, but received a breath of fresh air from Macron: «The true dictatorship is in Russia».
