Time to Act: Zelensky Calls on West to Push for Peace in Ukraine

The ongoing war in Ukraine has shaken the world, and the recent meeting in Paris could be a major step toward ending it. Leaders from the United States, Europe, and Ukraine gathered to explore new paths to peace and try to bring an end to the violence that has left countless lives destroyed. Let’s dive into what really went down, who was there, and why this gathering matters more than ever.

High-Stakes Diplomacy: Who Was in the Room and Why It Matters

The meeting took place in the heart of Paris at the Elysée Palace and was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. The room was packed with some of the most influential figures involved in the Ukraine conflict, including:

Steve Witkoff, special envoy from the Trump administration
Marco Rubio, top U.S. diplomat and Secretary of State
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s President
Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff
Security and foreign policy advisors from Germany, the United Kingdom, and France

This was no ordinary diplomatic chat. It marked the highest level of U.S.-European coordination on Ukraine since early February, and the main focus was clear—ending the war and finding a long-lasting, fair peace deal.

What Was Discussed?

The talks weren’t just about sitting around a table. Multiple sessions were held throughout the day involving foreign ministers, defense ministers, and national security experts. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, summed it up by saying that the discussions focused on:

Achieving a complete ceasefire
Creating a multinational peacekeeping presence
Ensuring security guarantees for Ukraine

Essentially, they were trying to build the foundation of what peace might actually look like—and more importantly, how to get there.

Zelensky’s Call for Pressure and the Push for Ceasefire

Ukrainian President Zelensky didn’t mince words. Speaking during the summit, he urged all parties involved to “put pressure” on Russia to finally agree to a ceasefire.

His reasoning? Every day the war drags on, more lives are lost. Zelensky made it clear: Russia continues to use every single day and night to attack, injure, and kill.

Zelensky’s message wasn’t just emotional—it was a strategic push to get the U.S. and European leaders to step up their game, especially in pushing Russia to back down. And some European diplomats were already on board before the meeting began, reportedly saying they hoped the U.S. would “use a bit more stick.”

Meanwhile, Russia’s response was quick and dismissive. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov waved off the entire summit, accusing European leaders of being more interested in “continuing the war” than stopping it.

Recent Attacks Spark Urgency Among Leaders

The urgency behind the talks wasn’t just political—it was deeply personal for many of the Ukrainian leaders at the table. Just days before the summit:

A Russian missile strike on Sumy killed at least 35 people and injured more than 100.
Another attack hit Kryvyi Rih, killing 18.
A drone strike in Dnipro left three people dead, including a young girl.

These back-to-back tragedies have only intensified the calls for a lasting ceasefire, making it clear that time is running out to find a peaceful resolution. The human toll is simply too high to ignore.

U.S.-Russia Backchannel Talks: A Glimmer of Hope?

One of the most interesting twists in this story is what happened before the Paris meeting. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, had just come back from a private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

According to Witkoff, Putin is now open to a “permanent peace”—something many would have found hard to believe even a few months ago. While there’s still plenty of skepticism about Moscow’s intentions, this statement offered a small sliver of hope that peace talks might actually be moving in the right direction.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Just weeks before, Russia rejected a full and unconditional ceasefire proposal agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine. So while Putin’s willingness to talk peace is promising, the path forward is still rocky.

Trump’s Role and the Political Drama Around Peace Talks

Former President Donald Trump, who is preparing for a return to the White House, has been vocal about the war. As far back as May 2023, he claimed he could “end the war in 24 hours” if given the chance. Whether that’s realistic or not, his administration is clearly trying to play a leading role in peace negotiations.

Still, not everything is going smoothly. Trump and Zelensky have had a tense relationship, especially after a heated exchange in February where Trump reportedly scolded Zelensky for not starting peace talks earlier. That tension hasn’t gone away and continues to affect how the two sides interact.

Meanwhile, Russia’s top economic negotiator Kirill Dmitriev claims that outside forces are trying to derail Russia’s conversations with the U.S. He didn’t name names, but the message was clear—Moscow feels the pressure and is growing suspicious of Western motives.

Final Summary: Is Peace in Ukraine Finally Within Reach?

So where do we stand after this high-profile summit in Paris?

The world is watching closely, and there are signs—however faint—that things might be shifting. The U.S. is showing more direct involvement, Putin seems more open to dialogue than before, and European leaders are united in their push for peace. Zelensky continues to call for strong, united pressure on Russia, and no one at the table seems ready to give up.

But despite all the diplomacy, lives are still being lost every day. And until the violence stops, these conversations—no matter how promising—will remain just that: conversations.

The hope now rests on turning words into action, and turning a warzone into a path forward for millions of Ukrainians who just want peace. Only time will tell if this summit was the spark needed to make that happen.