Ukraine's Leader Seeks European Backing Amid U. S. Peace Talks

Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, is on a mission to rally European support as the U. S. tries to wrap up the war with Russia. He's in Paris, chatting with France's President, Emmanuel Macron, and plans to meet with other European leaders this week. Meanwhile, U. S. and Ukrainian officials had a chat in Florida over the weekend to figure out a peace plan. Both sides said it was a good talk, but there's still more to do. The peace plan has had a bumpy ride. It started with some harsh demands from Russia, which upset Ukraine and its European friends. Ukraine managed to soften some parts of the plan, but some tricky issues were left for later talks. These include how big Ukraine's military can be, whether NATO troops can be stationed in Ukraine, and where the new borders between Ukraine and Russia should be. Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for the U. S. President, Trump, is heading to Moscow to meet with Russia's President, Vladimir Putin. He was involved in drafting the initial peace plan. Rustem Umerov, who led Ukraine's team in Florida, said the talks were tough but productive. He mentioned progress towards a fair peace, but acknowledged there's still a lot to do. The U. S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, agreed, saying that even if a deal is made with Ukraine, Russia would need to agree too. Zelensky has said these are crucial days, and a lot can change. It's clear that the path to peace is complex and filled with challenges. The outcome of these talks could shape the future of Ukraine and its relations with both Europe and Russia.