France's Macron and Lebanon's Salam urge negotiations to shore up ceasefire in Lebanon

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Tuesday urged for negotiations to shore up a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon and called on Israel to respect its neighbor's territorial integrity after talks in Paris.

Their appeal came as Pakistan was preparing to host a new round of talks between the United States and Iran as U.S. President Donald Trump said he was extending the ceasefire, which had been due to expire Wednesday, at Pakistan’s request.

Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel are to hold a new meeting in Washington later this week.

The U.S.-Iran talks looked increasingly uncertain late Tuesday after U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who was expected to lead U.S. negotiator, called off a trip to Pakistan, and Iran said it hadn’t decided whether to participate.

“We should allow time for negotiations and not let the war resume,” Macron said, adding that consolidating the truce in Lebanon was an immediate priority.

Broader regional stability, Macron said, “can only be achieved through an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the disarmament of Hezbollah,” an Iran-backed Lebanese militant group.

Salam said Lebanon remains committed to direct negotiations with Israel.

“We are continuing along this path, convinced that diplomacy is not a sign of weakness but a responsible act,” he said, adding that the talks would require sustained international support.

Still, Salam insisted that “there can be no lasting stability without a complete Israeli withdrawal” from Lebanese territory.

Hezbollah began firing missiles into Israel in early March, just two days after the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Iran. Israel had responded with heavy bombardment and a ground invasion.

The meeting at the Elysee presidential palace came after the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, came under attack from small arms fire on Saturday, leaving one French peacekeeper dead and three others wounded, two of them seriously.

Both Macron and the UNIFIL force have blamed Hezbollah, which has denied involvement.

Macron said France is ready to maintain its military on the ground, alongside international partners, in a potential follow-up force that could take over from UNIFIL. The peacekeeper mission's term expires at the end of the year, in line with a vote of the U.N. Security Council in August.

Earlier Tuesday, Salam attended a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg focused on the Middle East. The 27-member bloc's policy toward Israel has divided the EU and stymied unified action.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun later proposed direct negotiations with Israel — the first in decades — in exchange for a halt in hostilities, an offer initially rejected. Momentum shifted after a U.S.-Iran truce announcement and Pakistan-brokered talks between the two sides.

Lebanon and Israel held their first direct talks in decades last week in Washington, after more than a month of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Iran has insisted any ceasefire agreement must extend to Lebanon and warned it would not reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz otherwise.

The U.S. announced a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah on Thursday, describing it as a result of Israel-Lebanon talks.

Hezbollah, which opposed those talks and was not involved, said the ceasefire stemmed from Iranian pressure rather than the negotiations.

France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP PhotoMichel Euler)

France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP PhotoMichel Euler)

France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP PhotoMichel Euler)

France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP PhotoMichel Euler)

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Luxembourg, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Luxembourg, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

ROME (AP) — Elina Svitolina claimed a third Italian Open title on Saturday by beating Coco Gauff, who lost in the final in Rome for the second straight year.

In the men’s final on Sunday, home favorite Jannik Sinner will face Casper Ruud.

Svitolina took nearly three hours to prevail 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 and win her first WTA 1000 title since lifting the title in Rome in 2018. The Ukrainian also won in 2017.

“It’s very hard to believe that it’s been eight years when I had this trophy here and very, very, very pleased of course with the two weeks here," Svitolina said on court after her 20th career title.

“I told my coach that it would be nice before I finish my career to have a round number. So he told me that hopefully we’re going to get this this year. So, I’m very, very happy.”

Gauff, who was hoping to become the first American to win in Rome since 2016, lost to Jasmine Paolini last year but went on to win the French Open.

“It’s been a great two weeks ... and I definitely feel the momentum going into the French Open," she said. "A lot of lessons learned from this match.”

Gauff started brilliantly, breaking Svitolina and holding to love. She also had the chance to go 5-2 up but Svitolina fended off three break points and won four straight games to take the opener.

The third-ranked Gauff struggled on her serve throughout the second set but managed to take it to a tiebreak and level the match.

However, Svitolina dominated the decider and broke Gauff’s serve twice to leave her serving for the title. The seventh-ranked Svitolina sealed the result on her third match point with a volley at the net.

Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 when their rain-delayed semifinal resumed on Saturday and is one victory away from becoming only the second man after Novak Djokovic to win all nine Masters 1000 titles. Djokovic has won each Masters tournament at least twice.

The top-ranked Sinner led 4-2 in the third set when the match was suspended late Friday. The Italian finished off the match in 15 minutes on Saturday, sealing it on his third match point after Medvedev fended off two on his serve.

“It was a very different challenge and a tough challenge,” Sinner said. “Usually, during the night, I don’t struggle to sleep but this time it was not easy.

"You are in the third set, nearly done, but you still have to show up again and you never know what is happening. It is like the start of the match as there are nerves again. I am very happy with how I handled this situation and that I am back in the final.”

Earlier Friday on the red clay of the Foro Italico, Ruud routed home player Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1.

Sinner is also attempting to become the first Italian man to raise the Rome trophy since Adriano Panatta in 1976. Panatta will present the trophy on Sunday, with Italian President Sergio Mattarella also slated to attend the men's final.

After winning the first set easily on Friday, Sinner appeared fatigued as Medvedev stepped up his game and started running him around the court with drop shots and groundstrokes to the corners.

After several points Sinner bent over in apparent exhaustion and leaned on his racket for support. Sinner had his right thigh treated by a trainer midway through the second set.

Sinner came back from a 3-0 deficit only to be broken again in the 12th game and concede the set to Medvedev.

A bad bounce helped Sinner break Medvedev early in the third and take control for good.

Sinner has won all four of his career meetings with Ruud without dropping a set — including a 6-0, 6-1 rout in the Rome quarterfinals last year.

“Jannik is chasing history,” Ruud said. “I have to be the guy to try to stop him, and it will not be easy playing here in his home country. ... Last year, he really (routed me) here on the same court, so of course I’m looking for revenge. But at the same time I realize that he’s an incredible player and a unique talent.”

Sinner lost last year’s final to Carlos Alcaraz, who is sidelined due to a right wrist injury. Paolini in 2025 became the first Italian woman to raise the trophy in 40 years.

Sinner hasn’t lost since Feb. 19 in the Qatar Open quarterfinals. He has won 28 straight matches and a record five successive Masters titles. He could become the second man to win all three Masters tournaments on clay — including Monte Carlo and Madrid — in the same season after Rafael Nadal in 2010.

After Rome for Sinner is the French Open, the only Grand Slam event he hasn’t won. The titleholder, Alcaraz, will also miss it.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

United States' Coco Gauff holds a trophy after playing against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in the women's final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina kisses the trophy after winning against United States' Coco Gauff at the end of the women's final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

United States' Coco Gauff grimaces after missing a point as she plays against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina during their women's final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina celebrates a winning point as she plays against United States' Coco Gauff during their women's final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

United States' Coco Gauff reacts after loosing against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina at the end of the women's final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina celebrates after winning against United States' Coco Gauff at the end of the women's final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy's Jannik Sinner cheer with Daniil Medvedev of Russia after winning their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Daniil Medvedev of Russia returns a ball to Italy's Jannik Sinner during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italy's Jannik Sinner receives medical treatment during a medical timeout during the semifinal match against Daniil Medvedev of Russia, at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini))

Italy's Jannik Sinner returns a ball to Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)