Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky met French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on Monday, deepening diplomatic efforts aimed at shaping the conditions for a potential ceasefire after nearly four years of war. The talks came as Western allies, including Ukraine’s closest European partners, push to revise a U.S.-proposed peace framework they argue grants excessive concessions to Moscow.

Macron and Zelensky Seek ‘Reliable’ End to the War

Zelensky’s Paris visit followed a high-level meeting in Florida, where Ukrainian and U.S. officials worked to amend Washington’s proposed 28-point peace outline. The plan—criticized for restricting Ukraine’s military, blocking NATO membership, and requiring territorial concessions—was described by U.S. President Donald Trump as merely a “concept that needs fine-tuning.”

Macron’s office said the leaders discussed the conditions for a “just and lasting peace.” In remarks after the meeting, Zelensky said:

We spoke with Emmanuel for several hours. We managed to assess many details. Most attention was given to negotiations aimed at ending the war and to security guarantees. Peace must become truly reliable. The war must end as soon as possible.

Last week Macron urged Western partners to prepare “solid” guarantees for Kiev if an agreement is reached, signaling support for deploying a “security force” on land, at sea, and in the air to ensure Ukraine’s protection.

European Allies Push Back Against U.S. Plan

European partners—while welcoming renewed diplomatic momentum—raised strong objections to sections of the U.S. draft plan, arguing it risks undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty. Officials stressed that revisions were needed to prevent the proposal from appearing overly favorable to Russia’s demands.

The Florida meeting, described as “productive” by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focused on restructuring the plan to address these concerns. The discussions followed reports that Moscow had given disproportionate input into the negotiation outline.

Kremlin Presses Its Own Diplomatic Channel

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed President Vladimir Putin will meet U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff on Tuesday. Witkoff’s role drew scrutiny last week after revelations suggesting Putin’s foreign-policy adviser had been coaching the U.S. envoy on how Trump should approach the Ukraine peace process.

Both Washington and Moscow have downplayed the significance of the disclosures, though the meeting underscores Russia’s growing involvement in back-channel diplomacy.