US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff hailed significant progress in the Paris talks, announcing that Washington is close to finalizing an "agreement on Ukraine's prosperity." However, he acknowledged that the territorial issue remains the most difficult challenge.
"I think we have made great progress. We listened to statements from Zelensky and others regarding the territorial issue, which will be the most critical question, and we will continue these discussions. I hope we can reach some compromises in this regard," Witkoff stated.
He noted that the negotiations in Paris lasted 10 hours. Later this evening, Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to hold a separate meeting with the Ukrainian delegation.
"We are here to be mediators and to assist in the peace process. President Trump believes firmly and passionately that this killing must stop, the carnage must stop," the special envoy said.
He added that much progress had been achieved during previous meetings in Geneva, Berlin, and Mar-a-Lago.
Macron: US Stance on Guarantees Has Shifted
French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the importance of the US in providing security guarantees for Ukraine: "They are the only ones who have the capacity to provide certain guarantees, and all of this is key."
Macron added that recent weeks have shown a shift in Washington's position, though he did not specify the details.
Merz: Germany Ready to Station Forces Near Ukraine
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that German troops could be stationed in a NATO country bordering Ukraine following one year of a ceasefire.
"Germany will take responsibility for the security of Ukraine and the entire continent," Merz said, adding that "no options are ruled out."
He noted that in Paris, an agreement was reached on strong and legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine, specifically from the US: "I am grateful that the US has stated it is ready to provide [them]."
"We want a ceasefire based on strong security guarantees, unlike the Minsk agreements of 2015," Merz emphasized. According to him, Ukraine "stands on the brink of an energy and humanitarian crisis," which is why allies are "intensifying their efforts to end the war."
Starmer: We Are Closer to Peace, but Putin Is Not Ready
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the allies are "closer to peace than ever, but the hardest steps are yet to come."
At the same time, he warned that Putin is "not ready for peace": "Over the last few weeks we have seen the opposite. Further horrific attacks on Ukraine, the killing of injured civilians, and cutting off the power supply to millions in the depths of winter."
Starmer confirmed that the UK would participate in monitoring the ceasefire under US leadership.
Von der Leyen on Key Elements of Guarantees
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined the proposed security guarantees: "Our goal is clear: to provide credible security guarantees for Ukraine. This means strong Ukrainian Armed Forces capable of deterring potential future attacks, multinational deterrence forces, and binding commitments to support Ukraine in the event of a future attack by Russia."
Tusk: Just a "Shadow of Hope"
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted that the meeting in Paris would not bring definitive peace to Ukraine: "These negotiations and the efforts of European, American, and Ukrainian diplomacy offer a chance, slightly more than a shadow of a chance, for peace, but certainly not a guarantee."
According to him, there have been no signals from Russia indicating serious negotiations, and only pressure will compel it to treat diplomacy seriously.
Context
Earlier on January 6, Ukraine, France, and the UK signed a declaration of intent regarding the future deployment of multinational forces in Ukraine after the war concludes. Under the Paris Declaration, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, numbering 800,000 personnel, will serve as the first line of deterrence, while foreign forces will be deployed on land, in the air, and at sea, far from the line of contact. The US will lead the ceasefire monitoring.
Negotiations in Paris are set to continue on January 7 in a narrower format. Representing the Ukrainian side will be Budanov, Arakhamia, Umerov, Kyslytsya, and Bevz.
