The disastrous attempt at flattery by Donald Trump’s envoy that got Ukraine peace summit in Paris off to the worst possible start

The Trump administration made a disastrous attempt to flatter their French hosts at the Ukraine peace summit this week by comparing the Élysée Palace to Mar-a-Lago.  

Top officials from around the world travelled to Paris on Thursday to discuss the war with Russia and Kyiv’s security.  

It was the first time since Donald Trump’s inauguration that American, Ukrainian and European representatives are known to have met together to discuss an end to the war.

However, the meeting quickly got off to the worst possible start after Steve Witkoff’s attempts at some sweet talk quickly turned sour, The Times Diary has reported.

‘This is beautiful,’ the US Russia envoy said of the Élysée Palace, before adding: ‘This actually looks like President Trump’s club in Mar-a-Lago.’ 

The UK national security adviser Jonathan Powell was supposedly left baffled by the comparison of the neoclassical presidential palace to Trump’s Florida resort. 

Thursday’s talks, which were also attended by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, were an opportunity for Mr Witkoff to brief European ministers on his recent five-hour meeting with Putin.

Mr Witkoff claimed he ‘finally’ got an answer to the Russian President’s demands for a peace agreement in Ukraine during their ‘compelling meeting’ in Moscow.

Élysée Palace: Photo shows the outside of the presidential palace in France 

Mar-a-Lago: The main building of the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida on February 18, 2025

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff looks on during a diplomatic meeting with France’s President

But Kyiv and other European capitals were left alarmed by Mr Witkoff’s suggestion that Ukraine could hand over ‘five territories’ to Russia.

Macron previously described the talks as an important ‘convergence’ and came as concerns were growing about Trump’s readiness to draw closer to Russia.

Until now, Trump’s officials have pursued separate negotiating tracks between the United States and Ukraine, and between the US and Russia.

Senior US officials had also previously made comments suggesting European representatives would not be involved in ceasefire negotiations.

Meanwhile Putin today announced a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine as an ‘Easter truce.’

The Kremlin said all ‘military operations will stop from 6pm today (4pm UK time) until Monday.

Ukraine has not yet responded to Russia’s offer but Russia has said it hopes it ‘will follow our example.’

A statement read: ‘Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to midnight from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce.

‘I order all military actions to be stopped for this period.

‘At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive action.’

Top officials take part in a meeting at the Quai d’Orsay, France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Paris

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, listens to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a meeting with French, Ukrainian, German and UK delegations at the Elysee Palace

France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot speaks to the press

 The truce came days after President Trump said he was ready to walk away from trying to negotiate a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless progress is made, a top US official has warned.

If the president doesn’t see signs that an agreement is on the horizon he will call it a day because he has ‘other priorities’ to focus on, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.

‘We’re not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end. So we need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks.

‘If it is we’re in. If it’s not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well,’ Rubio said in Paris, after meeting European and Ukrainian leaders.

Rubio said Trump was still interested in a deal but was willing to move on if there were no immediate signs of progress.

‘If it’s not possible, if we’re so far apart that this is not going to happen, then I think the president’s probably at a point where he’s going to say, ‘well, we’re done’, he said.

‘The United States has been helping Ukraine over the last three years, and we want it to end, but it’s not our war,’ Rubio added.

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