Leaders Meet in Paris for Normandy Format Summit on Ukraine
First four-way summit in three years yields limited progress as Zelensky meets Putin for peace talks
First Four-Way Summit in Three Years Yields Limited Progress
Leaders of France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine met in Paris on December 9, 2019, for the first Normandy Format summit since 2016, as new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought to revitalize the stalled peace process in eastern Ukraine.
Key Facts
- Participants: Macron (France), Merkel (Germany), Putin (Russia), Zelensky (Ukraine)
- Duration: Approximately 8 hours of talks
- Location: Élysée Palace, Paris
- First meeting: Between Putin and Zelensky
Summit Outcomes
The leaders agreed on several modest steps:
- Full ceasefire by year’s end
- Prisoner exchange by end of 2019
- Withdrawal of forces from three additional areas
- Opening new crossing points across the contact line
Zelensky’s Approach
The Ukrainian president entered the summit with high hopes for breakthrough progress, emphasizing his electoral mandate for peace. However, he faced the reality of entrenched positions on both sides.
Putin’s Position
The Russian president maintained Moscow’s standard demands:
- Direct dialogue between Kyiv and separatist leaders
- Special status for Donetsk and Luhansk regions
- Constitutional reform granting autonomy
- Amnesty for separatist leaders
European Mediation
French President Macron and German Chancellor Merkel attempted to bridge differences while maintaining support for Ukrainian territorial integrity. They emphasized the importance of implementing existing Minsk commitments.
Limited Achievements
While the summit produced some humanitarian agreements, it failed to achieve major political breakthroughs. The fundamental disagreement over the sequence of implementing Minsk provisions remained unresolved.
Domestic Pressure
Zelensky faced criticism at home from those who feared he might make excessive concessions to Russia. Protesters gathered in Kyiv demanding he not “surrender” Ukrainian interests.
Ceasefire Reality
Despite commitments to a full ceasefire, violations continued along the contact line. Both sides blamed the other for failing to honor the Paris agreements.
Assessment
The summit demonstrated both the possibilities and limitations of the Normandy Format. While it provided a venue for direct dialogue, it could not overcome the fundamental incompatibility between Russian and Ukrainian positions on the conflict’s resolution.
The meeting highlighted Zelensky’s early optimism about negotiating an end to the conflict, which would gradually give way to a more realistic understanding of Russian intransigence.