KYIV – In a significant diplomatic move, four prominent European leaders convened in Kyiv today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept a comprehensive 30-day unconditional ceasefire. The leaders emphasized that failure to do so would result in increased sanctions on Russia.
During a press briefing, President Zelenskyy stressed that the ceasefire must encompass all domains: air, sea, and land. "It is quite possible to monitor the ceasefire in coordination with the United States, this is really realistic," Zelenskyy stated. He noted that the proposed ceasefire would provide a crucial opportunity for diplomacy to flourish, thereby enhancing the prospects for lasting peace.
The Ukrainian President revealed that the European leaders had previously discussed their shared strategy with former President Donald Trump. “We agreed on our common view of our further actions,” he remarked. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reinforced this sentiment, declaring, “All of us here, together with the U.S., are calling Putin out. If he's serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it now.” The proposed ceasefire could potentially commence as early as Monday, should Russia agree to the terms, although such an agreement appears unlikely.
In response to the ceasefire proposal, Russian news agency Interfax reported comments from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who claimed, "We hear many contradictory statements from Europe. They are generally confrontational in nature rather than aimed at trying to revive our relations. Nothing more." Meanwhile, President Putin continues to demand that Kyiv surrender significant portions of eastern and southern Ukraine, areas that Russian forces have struggled to occupy.
Prime Minister Starmer, along with the leaders of France, Germany, and Poland, traveled collectively to Kyiv for their first joint appearance. This meeting was part of a virtual gathering of the "coalition of the willing," which consists primarily of European nations prepared to support Ukraine if a durable ceasefire is established after more than three years of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Leaders joining the meeting via video link included Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canada's Mark Carney, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This gathering marked the inaugural visit to Ukraine by new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a steadfast advocate for Ukraine who took office on May 6. Merz affirmed that if Russia dismisses the ceasefire proposal, Europe will continue to defend Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who previously referred to Ukraine as the "beating heart of Europe," documented the leaders' journey by train on Instagram. He shared a video featuring the group with Zelenskyy and Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska as they visited a memorial honoring war casualties in central Kyiv. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk remarked on the symbolic importance of meeting in Kyiv, a city that endures near-daily Russian attacks, highlighting the strength of European unity in the face of aggression.
