In a recent statement, Russia's Foreign Ministry reiterated its position that Moscow will not accept the presence of any Western troops in Ukraine as part of a future peace agreement. This warning comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to engage with top European leaders in Paris on Thursday. Russian spokesperson Maria Zakharova emphasized that discussions regarding foreign intervention in Ukraine are off the table, stating that such actions are deemed unacceptable.
According to Zakharova, Western nations view Ukraine as a testing ground for their military innovations. She condemned the idea of deploying Western forces in any capacity, firmly rejecting proposals that have emerged in ongoing discussions aimed at ending Russia's full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022. Despite Moscow's clear stance, NATO leaders and the Ukrainian government continue to explore the possibility of security guarantees as part of a diplomatic resolution.
On Thursday, Zelenskyy will meet with the so-called Coalition of the Willing in Paris to further discuss the situation. The group is scheduled to have a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump at approximately 8 a.m. ET, according to a schedule released by French President Emmanuel Macron's office. Macron had welcomed Zelenskyy to the Élysée Palace on Wednesday, emphasizing Europe's readiness to provide security guarantees to Ukraine upon the signing of a peace deal.
Macron stated, "The contributions that were prepared, documented, and confirmed this afternoon at the level of the defense ministers allow me to say that the preparatory work is complete." He expressed confidence in the measures being politically endorsed, aiming for a robust and lasting peace for both Ukraine and Europe.
Despite the lack of signals from Russia indicating a desire to end the conflict, Zelenskyy remains optimistic about a close alliance with Europe and the U.S. He believes this partnership will increase pressure on Russia to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing war. The White House has confirmed that Trump will speak with Zelenskyy on Thursday, as discussions regarding the situation in Ukraine continue to intensify.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Trump responded to a journalist's suggestion that he had not taken sufficient action against Russia amid its ongoing offensive operations in Ukraine. He defended his administration's efforts, highlighting the imposition of 25% tariffs on Indian goods as a response to India's purchases of Russian energy and military equipment. "Would you say that there was no action that costs hundreds of billions of dollars to Russia?" Trump stated, emphasizing that his administration has not exhausted its options in dealing with the situation.
Following a meeting with Putin in Alaska nearly three weeks ago, Trump suggested that a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy could be a significant step in the negotiation process. However, the Kremlin has not shown any willingness to support such a meeting. In response to Putin's suggestion of a meeting in Moscow, Kyiv dismissed the proposal, with Foreign Minister Andri Sybiha criticizing it as deliberately unacceptable.
As the situation evolves, Trump reiterated his intent to communicate with Putin in the coming days, stating, "He knows where I stand, and he'll make a decision one way or the other." The ongoing discussions highlight the complexity of the diplomatic landscape surrounding Ukraine and the potential for further developments in the near future.
ABC News' Tom Soufi Burridge, Hannah Demissie, and Will Gretsky contributed to this report.
