David Lammy to meet Donald Trump's envoy for talks on Ukraine (2025)

David Lammy is to meet Donald Trump's top officials for talks on Ukraine today.

The Foreign Secretary will travel to Paris to meet with Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, and Steve Witkoff, who is Mr Trump's special envoy to Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian and other European ministers are also set to take part in the discussions in the French capital.

It will be the first high-level talks between White House representatives and the so-called 'coalition of the willing' since Sir Keir Starmer's visit to Washington in February.

The Prime Minister, together with French President Emmanuel Macron, have gathered around 30 countries who are ready to help enforce a peace deal in Ukraine.

Today's talks will give Mr Witkoff the opportunity to brief European ministers on his recent five-hour meeting with Mr Putin.

Mr Witkoff claimed he 'finally' got an answer to the Russian President's demands for a peace agreement in Ukraine during their 'compelling meeting' in Moscow.

But Kyiv and other European capitals have been left alarmed by Mr Witkoff's suggestion that Ukraine could hand over 'five territories' to Russia.

European diplomats said they would use the meeting in Paris on Thursday to urge the US to put more pressure on Moscow to agree an unconditional ceasefire.

'We want the US to use a bit more stick,' one official told the BBC.

Mr Trump's efforts to secure peace between Ukraine and Russia have stalled in recent weeks.

This is despite the two countries having last month agreed in principle to a ceasefire in the Black Sea in separate deals with the US, following talks in Saudi Arabia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this morning urged his nation's allies to 'put pressure on the killers' following further Russian attacks.

'We must put pressure on the killers and help life to end this war and guarantee a reliable peace,' he posted on Telegram.

'I want to thank all partners who use their capabilities in this way. Wars are stopped by force - force against the aggressor, force in the defence of life.'

The talks between Mr Rubio, Mr Witkoff and European ministers are also set to include discussions about a new nuclear deal with Iran.

Mr Trump has warned he is willing to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities if a deal is not reached.

A US State Department spokesperson said Mr Rubio and Mr Witkoff would be in France 'for talks with European counterparts to advance President Trump's goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war and stop the bloodshed'.

'While in Paris, he will also discuss ways to advance shared interests in the region,' they added.

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