Macron and Zelenskyy Discuss Strategies for Ending the War in Landmark Elysée Palace Meeting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Paris Monday to meet French President Emmanuel Macron as diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia appear to be gaining momentum. The meeting comes just one day before Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to discuss America's peace plan with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Trump expressed optimism after talks between American and Ukrainian officials in Florida on Sunday, where they discussed Washington's 28-point peace proposal. The plan initially included several concessions to Russia, including Ukrainian withdrawal from parts of Donetsk and US recognition of Russian control over Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions. But Washington has since revised the draft after criticism from Kyiv and European allies.

The timing is particularly challenging for Zelenskyy, who's dealing with a corruption scandal at home that forced him to fire his chief of staff and top negotiator Andriy Yermak. Meanwhile, Russian strikes continue - one attack Monday killed four people according to authorities.

This marks Zelenskyy's tenth visit to Paris since the war began in February 2022. The French presidency said both leaders would "exchange views on the situation and conditions for achieving just and lasting peace" while coordinating closely with European partners.

The Kremlin confirmed that Witkoff will meet Putin Tuesday afternoon in Moscow. Witkoff was part of the US delegation that included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in Sunday's talks. Ukraine's national security council secretary Rustem Umerov led their side.

Both sides called the discussions "productive," though Rubio acknowledged more work is needed. A source from Kyiv's delegation described the talks as "not easy." Trump, speaking from Air Force One, noted Ukraine has "some small tough problems" - referring to the corruption investigation - but said he sees "a good chance for a deal" since both sides want to end the war.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas suggested this week could be pivotal for diplomatic efforts to end Europe's most violent conflict since World War II. She told EU defense ministers Monday that Sunday's talks in the US were "difficult but productive," though concrete results remain unclear.

For European allies and NATO, the stakes are high. Any deal that legitimizes Russian territorial gains could set a dangerous precedent for future conflicts. But with mounting pressure on Ukraine both militarily and politically, and Trump's stated desire for a quick resolution, compromise may be inevitable.