France, Nov. 13 -- Friday's meeting comes a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff at a military airbase outside Dublin, following the American pair's discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

The diplomatic push has raised hopes that European governments could finally secure a formal role in negotiations, although major differences remain between Kyiv and Moscow over territory and security guarantees.

Speaking alongside Kushner at Baldonnel aerodrome on Thursday, Zelensky said European representatives would participate directly in the next round of talks rather than remain on the sidelines, as they had during earlier negotiations in Abu Dhabi.

"They...