Morning opening: Bienvenue à Paris

Jakub Krupa

Leaders from some 30 countries – not just from Europe, but beyond, including Turkey and Canada – are meeting in Paris to firm up their previous discussions about what “the coalition of the willing” could do to help Ukraine in case of a US-negotiated ceasefire or peace agreement.

Convened by French president Emmanuel Macron, the leaders are expected to hold further talks about the format of any future security guarantee they could offer to Ukraine, but also to coordinate on current issues being discussed in the US-led negotiations, including the contentious Russian demand to relax existing sanctions.

Speaking alongside Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Macron said “Russia shall have no right of say regarding the support we are providing and will provide Ukraine, nor shall they set the conditions,” as he accused Russia of coming up with an increasingly long list of demands.

He said that European forces could be stationed in “important town, strategic bases” to “mark the clear support from several European government and allies,” but made it clear they would have to “respond” to any attack from Russia.

Macron also pointedly rejected any suggestion of lifting sanctions, saying it was “much too early” to make such decision.

“Ultimately, sanctions depend solely on Russia’s choice of aggression, and therefore, their lifting depends solely on Russia’s choice to comply with international law,” he said.

Notably, the US is not involved in the talks today. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff spoke dismissively about the French-British idea last week, calling it “a combination of a posture and a pose and a combination of also being simplistic.”

The leaders are expected at the Élysée Palace very shortly, with the main event starting at 10am CET (9am GMT).

Talks are going to run for two, maybe three hours, and will be followed by press conferences. I will bring you all the key updates here.

It’s Thursday, 27 March 2025, and this is Europe live. It’s Jakub Krupa here.

Good morning.