Bloomberg reports: The US aims to achieve a complete ceasefire in Ukraine within a few weeks
A new phase of diplomatic efforts for peace in Ukraine has begun. According to Bloomberg, senior US officials have expressed a sincere intention to achieve a full cessation of hostilities on Ukrainian soil as soon as possible. These statements were made during unofficial meetings in Paris on April 17, attended by key international and Ukrainian representatives. According to sources from "European Pravda," who wished to remain anonymous, French President Emmanuel Macron, US Special Envoy Steve Vickoff, and representatives of Ukrainian leadership gathered in the French capital. The main topic of discussion was achieving the long-awaited peace and stopping the military actions that have been destroying Ukrainian cities and villages for over a year, causing immense human suffering and economic destruction. Participants in the meeting reported that the American delegation outlined the administration of Donald Trump’s key foreign policy priority — to end the war as quickly as possible. They assured their European colleagues that they would do everything possible to achieve this goal and expect significant progress in the near future. All sides agreed to strengthen cooperation and coordinate actions to accomplish this ambitious task, which has become a top priority for international diplomacy. At the same time, European envoys expressed concerns regarding Washington’s intentions concerning the new strategy if the Kremlin shows no willingness to compromise. They emphasized the need to impose stricter sanctions on Russia, including measures previously considered during the Trump administration. Representatives of European countries sought to convince the US of the importance of adopting a firm stance toward the Russian regime and increasing pressure, notably through potentially stronger economic restrictions. The fact that diplomatic battles are entering a new phase is confirmed by reactions from European politicians. For example, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called the Paris negotiations a diplomatic success for France, as it was the first time in recent history that leaders from the US, the European Union, and Ukraine were brought together for a joint discussion. "This is a step forward in our pursuit of peace and stability in the region," he stated. However, not all players in international politics share this optimism. Immediately after the meeting, on April 18, the well-known American politician and diplomat Marco Rubio stated that the US might abandon efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine if it becomes clear that this goal is unattainable. He added that Washington is ready to change its position and focus on increasing pressure on Russia if negotiations do not produce the desired results. Amid these developments, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian summarized: "The meetings in Paris were a diplomatic step forward because we united the efforts of America, Europe, and Ukraine around the same table. This is a healthy trend that gives hope for resolving the conflict." However, to solidify this positive trend and change the course of the war, much more effort and compromise are needed on the diplomatic horizon. Time will show how effective these new diplomatic measures will be and whether they can contribute to establishing a lasting peace in Ukraine.