President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on 7 January that a third round of negotiations with representatives of US President Donald Trump will take place in France, according to his Telegram post.
"Today there was already the first report from Rustem Umierov regarding the work of the Ukrainian negotiating team in France. Another session of negotiations with representatives of the President of the United States will take place, and this is already the third session of such negotiations in two days. We expect that the most difficult issues from the basic framework for ending the war will be discussed, namely – the issue of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and territories," Zelenskyy wrote.
The president instructed the team to explore possible formats for leadership-level meetings between Ukraine, other European states, and the United States.
"Ukraine does not hide from the most difficult issues and will never be an obstacle to peace. Peace must be worthy. And this depends on partners – whether they will ensure Russia's real readiness to end the war," the president stated.
Zelenskyy said he expects a detailed report from the negotiating team by the end of the day. The team includes National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umierov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov, Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Serhiy Kyslytsia, head of the Servant of the People faction Davyd Arakhamia, and Presidential Office adviser Oleksandr Bevz.
On 6 January, Ukrainian and American delegations began working on security guarantees and a basic framework for ending the war in Ukraine during the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris. Zelenskyy later announced that discussions would continue on 7 January.
The Paris summit on 6 January brought together 35 representatives from member countries of the Coalition of the Willing, including 27 heads of state and government. The American delegation consisted of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alex Grinkewich also participating.
Ukraine, France, and the United Kingdom signed a trilateral Declaration of Intent regarding the deployment of multinational forces in Ukraine after a ceasefire. Member states of the Coalition and Ukraine, with US participation, concluded a joint declaration on security guarantees for stable and lasting peace after the war ends. The declaration includes participation in a US-proposed ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, multinational forces for Ukraine, commitments to provide support to Ukraine in restoring peace in case of future armed attack by Russia, and commitments to deepen long-term defense cooperation with Ukraine.
At a press conference following the Coalition of the Willing meeting, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff stated that the American and Ukrainian sides have largely completed work on security protocols for peace in Ukraine. According to Witkoff, Trump supports both the security protocols and Ukraine, as well as the peace agreement.
At the same time, Poland has announced its willingness to take on major logistical responsibilities in supporting Ukraine following any future peace agreement with Russia.
