France has responded with marked scepticism to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent call for an Easter truce in Ukraine, branding it a superficial gesture aimed more at appeasing Washington than paving the way for genuine peace.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has dismissed Putin's Easter ceasefire in Ukraine as a "marketing operation" designed to keep US President Donald Trump onside, as peace talks continue to falter.
Speaking to FranceInfo radio on Tuesday, Barrot said the so-called truce was a "charm operation" intended to prevent Trump from growing "impatient and angry".
The truce, hastily declared and swiftly violated with fresh Russian aerial assaults, has only deepened European doubts about Moscow’s sincerity.
"The United States encouraged Kiev to go further by suggesting a 30-day general ceasefire. The Ukrainians accepted, and now it's up to Vladimir Putin to accept the same principle," Barrot explained.
'Red lines' with Washington
While the fragile lull in hostilities saw a brief reduction in drone and missile attacks, it did little to bolster confidence ahead of renewed negotiations set for Wednesday in London.
The upcoming talks will bring together representatives from Ukraine, France the UK, and the United States, following last week’s high-stakes meeting in Paris that included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
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Amid mounting frustration, European powers are taking a firmer stance.
Barrot revealed that France, alongside other European nations, had clearly communicated their "red lines" to Washington – non-negotiable conditions for any eventual peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
"Our sole objective is to defend French interests and European security," Barrot stated.
"As the US assumes a mediating role, we’ve made sure they understand where we draw the line".
Though Barrot stopped short of spelling out these red lines, European diplomats are known to be resistant to any arrangement that would legitimise Russian control over occupied Ukrainian territory.
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US patience 'waning' on peace deal
This hardline position stands in contrast to recent comments by Rubio, who hinted the US could walk away from the peace process altogether if a deal doesn’t emerge soon.
"The United States has been helping Ukraine over the last three years, but it's not our war," Rubio said on Friday, signalling that America’s patience – and political will – may be waning. He added that European involvement has been "helpful," but that the US has "other priorities" if a breakthrough cannot be reached.
France’s firm stance underscores growing concern in European capitals that Trump’s desire to "move on" from Ukraine could leave the continent exposed.
As Barrot has pointed out, any lasting solution will require "the consent and contribution of Europeans".
