Senior US diplomats are preparing for discussions in Paris this week, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff head to France for talks focused on Ukraine, Iran, and escalating trade tensions, according to Politico.
Witkoff, tasked by President Donald Trump with brokering an end to conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, is scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, just days after holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The White House described those discussions as “another step toward a ceasefire”, despite acknowledging Trump’s frustration with the slow progress.
Meanwhile, Rubio will meet French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot before continuing to Africa. The Paris stop comes as Macron champions European security guarantees for Ukraine, including proposals for a “reassurance force” to monitor any future truce.
The meetings follow Trump’s recent decision to suspend punitive tariffs on European goods for 90 days, a move Macron dismissed as a “fragile” reprieve. With the US threatening broader trade measures, French officials are expected to press for permanent exemptions during the discussions.
The visit marks the highest-level US engagement with France since Vice President JD Vance attended an AI summit in February, underscoring the urgency of coordinating on Ukraine, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and transatlantic economic disputes.
