Updated at 3:15 p.m. Ukraine’s president said on Telegram that during a meeting with his French counterpart he spoke about “Ukraine’s real capabilities to counter Russian terror, about our defense and about the support that can strengthen our positions in diplomacy.” The presidents also discussed diplomacy and their next steps.
“Today in Paris is the most representative meeting of the Coalition of the Willing: heads of state, leaders of international organizations, ministerial-level officials and ambassadors. We are preparing important political steps,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Reuters published photos of the meeting between the presidents.
Zelenskyy arrived in Paris on Jan. 6, to take part in person in a meeting of the “coalition of the willing.” He said on social media that he was scheduled to meet in France with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, members of the U.S. negotiating team and leaders of the coalition of the willing.
The Ukrainian president will also hold a working lunch with U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. According to presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn, the Ukrainian delegation includes presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov.
A news conference by the Ukrainian president is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. Kyiv time.
As Bloomberg reported, European leaders and U.S. officials are seeking to finalize an agreement on security guarantees that would include the possible presence of U.S. troops on Ukrainian territory to ensure the durability of any peace deal.
According to sources, the talks in Paris on Tuesday, Jan. 6, will focus on how to integrate capabilities recently proposed by Washington into the plans of the “coalition of the willing.” More than 27 national leaders are expected to attend, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.