Progress for Ukraine talks in Paris unsure with focus shifting to Venezuela : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2000x1333+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa9%2F0a%2F19f7aef64547b7860af80065daed%2Fap26003647661818.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2000x1333+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa9%2F0a%2F19f7aef64547b7860af80065daed%2Fap26003647661818.jpg" class="img" alt="Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026." fetchpriority="high"/> Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks throughout a briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. Danylo Antoniuk/AP disguise caption

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Danylo Antoniuk/AP PARIS — Ukraine's allies are assembly Tuesday in Paris for key talks that might assist decide the nation's safety after a possible ceasefire with Russia. However prospects for progress are unsure with the Trump administration's focus shifting to Venezuela.

Earlier than the U.S. seize of Venezuelan chief Nicolás Maduro, French President Emmanuel Macron had expressed optimism concerning the newest gathering of so-called "coalition of the keen" nations. For months, they've been exploring learn how to deter any future Russian aggression ought to it comply with cease combating Ukraine.

In a Dec. 31 deal with, Macron stated that allies would "make concrete commitments" on the summit "to guard Ukraine and guarantee a simply and lasting peace."

Macron's workplace stated Tuesday's assembly will collect an unprecedented variety of officers attending in individual, with 35 contributors together with 27 heads of state and authorities. The U.S. might be represented by President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Macron's workplace stated the U.S. delegation was initially set to be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who modified his plans for causes associated to the navy intervention in Venezuela.

Contributors search concrete outcomes on 5 key priorities as soon as combating ends: methods to watch a ceasefire; help for Ukraine's armed forces; deployment of a multinational pressure on land, at sea and within the air; commitments in case there's one other Russian aggression; and long-term protection cooperation with Ukraine.

However whether or not that is nonetheless achievable Tuesday is not so clear now, as Trump offers with the aftermath of his choice to impact management change in Venezuela.

Ukraine seeks agency ensures from Washington of navy and different help seen as essential to securing comparable commitments from different allies. Kyiv has been cautious of any ceasefire that it fears may present time for Russia to regroup and assault once more.

Latest progress in talks Earlier than the U.S. navy operation focusing on Maduro, Witkoff had indicated progress in talks about defending and reassuring Ukraine.

In a Dec. 31 submit, Witkoff tweeted that "productive" discussions with him, Rubio, and Kushner on the U.S. aspect and, on the opposite, nationwide safety advisers of Britain, France, Germany and Ukraine had centered on "strengthening safety ensures and growing efficient deconfliction mechanisms to assist finish the struggle and guarantee it doesn't restart."

France, which with the UK has coordinated the monthslong, multination effort to shore up a ceasefire, has solely given broad-brush particulars concerning the plan's scope. It says Ukraine's first line of protection towards a Russian resumption of struggle could be the Ukrainian navy and that the coalition intends to strengthen it with coaching, weaponry and different help.

Macron has additionally spoken of European forces probably being deployed away from Ukraine's entrance strains to assist deter future Russian aggression.

Vital particulars unfinalized <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4672x4672+1168+0/resize/100/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2Fe4%2Fab28c4f2432e9e23a46addf051d8%2Fdsc00415.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4672x4672+1168+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2Fe4%2Fab28c4f2432e9e23a46addf051d8%2Fdsc00415.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="img lazyOnLoad" alt="Hennadii Fil, 65, former deputy Commander of the 309th Missile Regiment near Soviet air defense missile at the Museum of the Strategic Missile Forces on Dec. 5, 2025." loading="lazy"/>

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in the course of the weekend that potential European troop deployments nonetheless face hurdles, essential particulars stay unfinalized, and "not everybody is prepared" to commit forces.

He famous that many international locations would want approval from parliament even when leaders agreed to navy help for Ukraine. However he acknowledged that help may are available in types apart from troops, akin to "by means of weapons, applied sciences and intelligence."

Zelenskyy stated that post-ceasefire deployments in Ukraine by Britain and France, Western Europe's solely nuclear-armed nations, could be "important" as a result of another coalition members "can not present navy help within the type of troops, however they do present help by means of sanctions, monetary help, humanitarian support and so forth."

"Talking frankly as president, even the very existence of the coalition will depend on whether or not sure international locations are able to step up their presence," Zelenskyy stated. "If they don't seem to be prepared in any respect, then it's not actually a 'coalition of the keen.'"