AL HAYAT - Rubio to meet French leaders for talks on Ukraine

Rubio and US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff would also discuss tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and Middle East trouble spots, in talks with France's President Emmanuel Macron and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, according to a French diplomatic source.

No specific proposals for the talks have been made public, but Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week in a bid to press US President Donald Trump's efforts for a ceasefire.

Trump pledged before taking office that he would quickly end the war raging since Russia's February 2022 invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, and he has voiced frustration at Moscow's tactics.

Witkoff said this week, however, after his third meeting with Putin, that he still sees a peace deal "emerging".

Rubio will be on his third trip to Europe since becoming the top US diplomat, having already attended the Munich Security Conference and a NATO meeting in February and March.

For Europe, Ukraine has become more critical following Russia's recent missile strikes on two Ukrainian cities that left dozens of civilians dead.

Barrot said on Wednesday that Putin "has again showed that his cruelty is limitless and that he has no intention of starting a ceasefire" as proposed by the United States and Ukraine last month.

France, Britain and Germany were surprised by Trump opening talks on improving ties with Russia, but have sought a coordinated European response to protecting Ukraine, during the conflict and in any ceasefire.

Britain and France have proposed a mainly European "reassurance" force prepared to go to Ukraine if a ceasefire starts. However, many European leaders say it would need US support.

The State Department said only that Rubio and Witkoff would meet European officials to discuss Trump's efforts to "advance" the goal of stopping the Ukraine war.

A French diplomatic source said Rubio and Barrot would discuss "the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear file".

The United States and Iran are to hold a second round of indirect talks on Iran's nuclear programme in Rome on Saturday.

The talks have become more important after Rafael Grossi, head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, warned on Wednesday that Iran was "not far" from possessing a nuclear bomb.

Talks to end the Gaza war have also stalled, with Israel blocking humanitarian aid from entering the Palestinian territory. The UN says Gaza now faces its worst humanitarian crisis since the start of the war in October 2023, after the Hamas attacks.

Separately, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu will travel to Washington on Thursday.

He was set to meet with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, for talks also dominated by Ukraine, Iran and Gaza.

Lecornu was also expected to meet with National Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard and Keith Kellogg, Trump's Ukraine envoy.

burs/tw/rjm

W.Subaie--al-Hayat