A second round of international talks has begun in Paris to find a way to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, with a possible announcement of a general ceasefire on April 20, 2025, to coincide with Easter. The meeting, which is taking place from April 16 to 18, has brought together key U.S. administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg. They are consulting with European leaders, including French Presidential Adviser Emmanuel Bonne, British Prime Minister Jonathan Powell, and German Chancellor Adviser Jens Ploetner. The goal of the talks, according to the U.S. State Department, is to advance President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the fighting and bloodshed in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian delegation at the meeting is led by the head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. According to Reuters, their visit to Paris was not announced in advance, which underlines the urgency of the discussions. Goncharenko noted that the idea of ​​an Easter truce is being discussed as a symbolic step that could lay the groundwork for a broader ceasefire.

Rubio briefed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the progress of the talks, indicating U.S. efforts to maintain dialogue with Moscow. According to Politico, Witkoff met with French President Emmanuel Macron, while Rubio held talks with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. France, according to RBC-Ukraine, is coordinating European efforts to guarantee security for Ukraine, including the idea of ​​deploying peacekeeping forces in the event of a ceasefire. Macron had previously proposed a month-long ceasefire in the air, at sea, and in terms of infrastructure, but the initiative failed to gain support.