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Rabat – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Paris on Friday for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on ways to increase pressure on Russia to end its war on Ukraine, Zelensky’s spokesman said.
“The president is already in Paris,” spokesman Sergiy Nykyforov told reporters, including AFP.
The visit comes as US-brokered peace talks aimed at ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have stalled, complicated by the widening US-Israel-Iran war in the Middle East.
Discussions between Zelensky and Macron will focus in part on strengthening sanctions against Russia, particularly by targeting Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers used to transport oil in violation of Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the French presidency said.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss broader diplomatic efforts to halt the war, Macron’s office added.
The Kremlin criticized the planned meeting, saying attempts to increase pressure on Russia would undermine prospects for peace.
“The very idea of trying to put pressure on Russia is absurd,” Kremlin officials said.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said Washington would waive “certain oil-related sanctions,” although he did not explicitly mention Russia. His remarks followed a phone call with President Vladimir Putin.
The United States has proposed new trilateral peace talks with Russia and Ukraine next week, which Zelensky said could take place in Switzerland or Turkiye.
Zelensky arrived in Romania on Thursday ahead of the Paris meeting and is also expected to visit Spain as part of his European tour.
