US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris on Thursday, as more than 30 allied leaders gather to discuss long-term security support for Kyiv.

Witkoff briefly attended a session of the so-called “coalition of the willing” at the Élysée Palace before leaving about 20 minutes after the talks began, The Guardian reported.

He is scheduled to hold separate discussions with Zelensky later in the day. Zelensky is attending in person, while other leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, are joining by video link.

The meeting, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, is also expected to include a call between European leaders and Trump to discuss Washington’s role in backing Ukraine. Allies hope to show unity and encourage continued US support.

Witkoff has previously met with Russian officials, including a meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on August 6. The discussion, which lasted about three hours, came just days before a Trump-imposed deadline for Russia to halt its attacks in Ukraine or face new sanctions.

During that visit, Witkoff met with Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s special representative for foreign investment and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, before being received by Putin. The details of the meeting were not publicly disclosed.

Putin praised Witkoff in Beijing on Wednesday, saying the envoy “accurately conveys” Trump’s positions to Moscow while also communicating Russia’s perspective.

“I am absolutely convinced that Mr. Witkoff presents… the position of the American president himself, and not any other,” Putin said, noting the talks involve “many difficult issues.”

Earlier reports suggested some European and Russian officials had questioned Witkoff’s ability to convey both sides’ positions clearly.