“We are talking about core, hard sanctions," an EU diplomat said. "If the Russians want them to be lifted, they need to have a confrontation with us, not only with the Americans.”

Governments also realize that there's a tangled web of diplomacy at play where little can be taken at face value and there may be bluff and double-bluff on all sides. Trying to unpick that has also become a European priority.

Aside from the straight choice of whether it's better to keep sanctions or not, "there is also a risk if the EU rejects Putin's demands, both Trump and Putin would seize the opportunity to blame the EU for Trump's failed peace efforts," said Janis Kluge of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, a think tank. If the EU starts to back down, "it could also cause divisions within the EU ... [which] may be Putin's main goal."
Unprovoked and unjustified aggression

The summit in Paris is the latest of a series of gatherings that have been held in Paris and London in recent weeks, with French President Emmanuel Macron and United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer leading efforts to provide Ukraine with security guarantees.

Leaders from over 30 countries and international organizations, including EU members as well as the U.K. and Turkey, are expected to attend. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with Macron Wednesday evening and will stay for the summit.

"There is so much happening behind the scenes, the first point is to get clarity" on what Ukraine and the U.S. agreed, which is where Zelenskyy can help the EU out, a European diplomat said.

The European Commission denied claims the EU's stance on sanctions could change as a result of the U.S.-Russia talks. Macron went even further late Wednesday, saying the sanctions will remain because Moscow has proven in recent days it is not negotiating in good faith.

"We're not going to lift sanctions," he said at a news conference alongside Zelenskyy. "It's way too early."

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EU says 'unconditional withdrawal' of Russia from Ukraine is a precondition to amend sanctions