U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff Meets European Leaders in Paris to Discuss Ukraine Security Guarantees

PARIS — U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with European leaders in Paris on Thursday to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, officials said, as allies work to ensure long-term military support and continued American backing after the conflict ends.

Witkoff, named by U.S. President Donald Trump to mediate peace talks, attended a session of a so-called “coalition of the willing” convened to coordinate aid for Ukraine and to sketch out plans for military support in the event of a ceasefire that allies say would be needed to deter future Russian aggression. A Ukrainian presidential official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said Witkoff also planned to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Paris talks.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer led the coalition meeting, which brought together European partners that have pressed for mechanisms to reassure Kyiv and to sustain military assistance over the long term. Participants discussed how to structure support that could continue after active hostilities end, and how to coordinate contributions from multiple countries.

The talks come amid persistent Western concerns about both the immediate battlefield needs in Ukraine and the political question of what security arrangements would look like if a ceasefire were reached. European governments have been weighing proposals for multinational units and other forms of reassurance aimed at preventing renewed aggression, while also seeking commitments from the United States and other partners to remain engaged beyond a negotiated halt to fighting.

Witkoff’s involvement underscores Washington’s diplomatic role in shaping post-conflict security arrangements even as the U.S. also remains a leading supplier of military aid to Kyiv. The envoy’s meetings in Paris follow months of Western consultations on how to balance deterrence needs, logistical challenges and political sensitivities among allies.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called for firm, long-term guarantees to ensure their country’s security if and when fighting subsides. European leaders participating in the Paris session said they wanted to explore practical options for delivering that assurance, including potential multinational deployments and coordinated stockpiles of defensive systems, though concrete agreements were not detailed by organizers after the meeting.

The Paris talks are expected to continue with follow-up meetings among coalition members and bilateral discussions between Witkoff and Ukrainian officials. Allies said the goal of the process is to produce a durable framework that can be implemented rapidly in the event of a ceasefire and that will deter future aggression while keeping Ukraine’s defense needs at the center of planning.