Europe outlines red lines for US on peace deal with Ukraine - French Foreign Minister
Photo: France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (Getty Images)
European countries informed the United States last week about which aspects of a potential peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia would not be subject to negotiations for them, Reuters reports, citing French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
Ukraine, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany held their first joint talks in Paris on April 17, following the arrival of President Donald Trump to power. During the talks, the parties exchanged views on ways to end the more than three-year-long war.
High-ranking officials, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will meet again in London on April 23.
"The only objective that concerns us is to defend French interests and European security. It's the reason that as the US decides to place itself in a mediator position that we make them hear what our 'red lines' are," Barrot told the radio station franceinfo.
However, France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs did not specify the issues on which European leaders are willing to make concessions.
Negotiations in Europe
According to Bloomberg, the US presented its proposals to European allies regarding the peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. The US proposal suggests the de facto freezing of the war, with temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories remaining under Russian control.
The proposal also involves the easing of sanctions against Russia and rejects discussions on Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO.
Furthermore, the Wall Street Journal reported that the proposal could include recognition by Washington of the occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea as territory of Russia.
After the talks in Paris, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that President Donald Trump will stop trying to mediate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine within a few days if there are no clear signs that an agreement can be reached.
