Trump hints US may skip Ukraine peace talks in Paris this Saturday

President Donald Trump has indicated that United States attendance at a planned high-level meeting on the Ukraine conflict this Saturday is not guaranteed. The president stated the US would only send a delegation to the talks in Europe if there appeared to be a viable path toward a peace agreement to end Russia's war.

Conditional participation and strategic focus

"We'll see whether or not we attend the meeting," Trump said on Thursday. "They want us to attend, and we'll be attending... if we think there's a good chance, and we don't want to waste a lot of time." He emphasized a desire to see the conflict "settled" to "save a lot of lives." While Trump did not specify the location, reports from Axios indicate the meeting of national security advisors is set for Paris, involving officials from Ukraine, Germany, France, and the UK. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as Trump's National Security Advisor, would likely lead any US contingent.

Preceding discussions with Kyiv

The potential Paris talks follow other diplomatic engagements. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described a Wednesday meeting with a US delegation as "productive." That group included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the president's senior advisor and son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Their discussions centered on Ukraine's reconstruction and potential revisions to a proposed 20-point peace plan. Zelenskyy suggested the meeting could be considered the inaugural session of a formal group dedicated to his country's economic recovery.

Global diplomatic context and regional stakes

This cautious, conditional approach from Washington marks a distinct shift in diplomatic strategy concerning the Eastern European war. It underscores the Trump administration's prioritization of what it views as direct, result-oriented negotiations. The development is closely watched by other key players in the region, including NATO ally Türkiye, which has maintained dialogue with both Kyiv and Moscow and consistently positioned itself as a mediator seeking a stable and lasting peace based on Ukraine's sovereignty.