In a united front, leaders from the UK, France, Germany, and Poland gathered in Kyiv to call on Russia to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine starting Monday. The meeting, led by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also included remote participation from other global figures.
This diplomatic push, part of a broader effort by the so-called “coalition of the willing,” follows a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, who originally proposed the ceasefire. The group warned Russia of sweeping new sanctions if it refuses to comply.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the need to resist aggression in Europe and highlighted the potential for peace to revive Ukraine’s economy and reunite families torn apart by war. Standing with Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish PM Donald Tusk, Starmer described the talks as a critical step toward lasting peace.
Zelensky reinforced the call for an unconditional truce, rejecting Moscow’s demand that the West first suspend military support to Ukraine. He said any preconditions would be a clear attempt to prolong the war.
Macron added that the proposed ceasefire would be primarily overseen by the U.S., with European support. He warned that any violations would prompt severe coordinated sanctions.
Chancellor Merz described the war as a clear act of Russian aggression and a breach of international law. The Kyiv summit followed a separate gathering in Moscow where President Vladimir Putin hosted over 20 international leaders for Russia’s Victory Day.
Participants in the Kyiv meeting included Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Despite a 30-hour ceasefire declared by Putin for Victory Day, reports from Ukraine point to ongoing Russian attacks. In the Sumy region, an elderly woman was killed and multiple homes destroyed. In Donetsk, one person was hurt in shelling that ignited apartment fires. Meanwhile, a civilian in Kherson was injured by a Russian drone.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the European leaders’ statements as confrontational, claiming pressure tactics would be ineffective.
The coalition says it aims to secure a future peace deal with lasting guarantees, including the possibility of deploying international forces to Ukraine if needed.