Rubio and Witkoff visit Paris for Ukraine talks - State Department
Photo: US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Getty Images)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will spend three days in Paris to discuss how to end the war in Ukraine, the US State Department reports.
The State Department has officially confirmed the trip of two senior officials to France this week. The American officials will be in Paris from April 16 to 18.
The Department noted that the purpose of Rubio and Witkoff's visit is to hold talks with European partners to promote US President Donald Trump's plan to "end the Russia-Ukraine war and stop the bloodshed."
However, the US Secretary of State will talk to European representatives not only about Ukraine but also about American interests.
"While in Paris, he will also discuss ways to advance shared interests in the region," the State Department added.
US representatives visit to Paris
Earlier, Politico wrote about the planned visit of Rubio and Witkoff to Paris.
The agency, citing its sources, noted that Witkoff will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, and Rubio will hold talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. Next, Rubio intends to travel to Africa.
One of the American officials told the agency that the meetings in France will be key after Witkoff's recent visit to Moscow. And the White House said the meeting was "another step in the negotiating process towards a ceasefire," despite Trump's "frustration" over the lack of progress.
Witkoff's talks with Putin
On April 11, US Special Representative Steve Witkoff met with Russia's Vladimir Putin. The talks lasted almost five hours.
Witkoff called the talks with the Kremlin leader convincing and said that they discussed steps that could end the war in Ukraine.
Later, The Wall Street Journal reported that several advisers to US President Donald Trump urged him to be more careful with Moscow's statements about the truce.
However, Trump still stands by envoy Steve Witkoff, who believes Putin wants to make peace after meeting with him twice in Moscow. The US President is convinced that Russia is seeking to end the war in Ukraine.
