France has outlined its position on potential peace negotiations in Ukraine shortly before President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives in Paris for talks with President Emmanuel Macron. Paris insists that no credible peace process can move forward without Europe’s direct involvement — a message delivered at a crucial diplomatic moment. As reported by The WP Times, citing the French newspaper Le Figaro, this stance reflects France’s determination to shape the diplomatic framework surrounding the conflict.
The statement originates from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, whose remarks — first published in Le Figaro — underline that France, together with its European partners, has been working continuously to ensure that every step taken is consistent with lasting peace in Ukraine and the security of the European continent.
Barrot stressed that the recently presented twenty-eight-point peace proposal by the United States of America had undergone significant revisions. According to him, the updated version no longer includes points that were considered problematic for European states.
He added that, for the first time, the United States of America had formally expressed its readiness to collaborate with European partners on a framework for long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. These guarantees are intended to prevent any future military aggression against Ukraine after the end of the current conflict.
While the Russian Federation continues efforts to limit the operational capacity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, European countries are focused on supporting what Barrot called a “strong Ukrainian army for the post-war period”. Such support, he noted, would require substantial assistance in rebuilding Ukraine’s military structures and defence capability.
Barrot also highlighted the formation of a thirty-five-nation coalition, referred to as the “Coalition of the Determined”, calling it a development “unprecedented in European history since the end of the Second World War”. This coalition was established to ensure a coordinated response to major security challenges beyond the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Zelenskyy’s visit to Paris
On Monday, the first of December, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is paying an official visit to the French Republic. The meeting with President Emmanuel Macron will take place at the Élysée Palace, followed by public statements from both leaders. The agenda is expected to centre on security, European coordination and the evolving diplomatic landscape surrounding the war.
The revised peace plan of the United States of America
The original peace proposal, consisting of twenty-eight points, had been criticised for including provisions perceived as favourable to the Russian Federation. To address these concerns, delegations from the United States of America, Ukraine and a number of European states held talks in Geneva on the twenty-third of November. The document was substantially rewritten to align more closely with Ukraine’s interests and broader European security priorities.
Work on the plan is ongoing. On the thirtieth of November, further negotiations between representatives of the United States of America and Ukraine took place in the State of Florida. Discussions reportedly covered territorial issues as well as Ukraine’s long-term prospects for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
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