Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday seeking to revive international momentum for talks to end the war in Ukraine.
The visit comes amid a new US-Israeli confrontation with Iran that has diverted military and diplomatic attention and resources away from Russia’s full-scale invasion, now in its fourth year. A French presidency official said the core message of the trip is that no other crisis will divert attention from Ukraine, which remains a major security priority for France and will continue to receive French support.
Officials said Zelenskyy and Macron were expected to press measures to increase pressure on Moscow, including steps to disrupt Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of ageing tankers that are used to move oil in violation of sanctions.
How the Iran conflict has affected Ukraine
The Iran-related attacks, approaching their second week, have complicated efforts to resume peace-related diplomacy for Ukraine. Some planned meetings had been due to take place in Abu Dhabi, a city that has been repeatedly targeted by Iranian strikes.
The strikes on Gulf states and Iran’s attempts to threaten the Strait of Hormuz have pushed oil prices sharply higher, with Brent crude near $100 a barrel. To blunt the price spike, the US announced a 30-day window allowing the sale of sanctioned Russian oil already at sea. Kyiv and some European partners sharply criticized that temporary easing, arguing that energy exports are a major source of revenue for Russia.
Macron reiterated France’s opposition to lifting Russian sanctions, saying the G7’s position is to keep them in place and that current developments do not justify lifting restrictions. Zelenskyy also denounced the US measure, saying the limited exemption could give Russia roughly $10 billion for the war and would not help bring about peace.
Potential military ripple effects
The Iranian strikes have increased demand among Gulf states for air-defense systems, risking depletion of regional stocks and a broader shortfall of missiles globally. Zelenskyy warned this could hurt Ukraine’s own air-defense needs, and he claimed—without citing a source—that Gulf countries used in a few days more PAC-3 missiles than Kyiv has received from the US over the last four years.
Zelenskyy has tried to turn the situation into an opening by offering Ukrainian drone-interception technology to Gulf partners in exchange for air-defense missiles. He also hopes strengthening ties with some Gulf states might give them leverage with Moscow.
Russian strike kills three in eastern Ukraine
Separately on Friday, three people were killed when a Russian strike hit a bus near the embattled town of Kupiansk in eastern Ukraine. Local investigators said an Iskander missile struck the bus near Nova Oleksandrivka, releasing an image showing a red bus with shattered windows. Authorities said the dead included the driver and two passengers; four others were wounded and private homes were damaged. The General Prosecutor’s office reported the casualties. The Kremlin did not immediately comment; it has repeatedly said Russian forces do not target civilians.
Edited by: Wesley Rahn