In a rare late-night address from the Kremlin, Putin said Russia is ready for “serious negotiations” aimed at achieving “a strong, lasting peace.” While he didn’t directly respond to the European call for a ceasefire, he suggested a new truce with Ukraine might be possible.

Leaders from the UK, France, Germany, and Poland—collectively referred to as the “coalition of the willing”—visited Kyiv on Saturday in a strong show of support for Ukraine. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stood alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to deliver a unified message: the fighting must stop.

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They warned that if Russia doesn’t agree to a full ceasefire across land, air, and sea by Monday, it will face even tougher sanctions, particularly targeting its energy and financial sectors.

Sir Keir later told the BBC that U.S. President Donald Trump had been consulted and fully supported the ceasefire push, calling it “a demand that must be met.”

While Putin expressed openness to talks, his spokesperson Dmitry Peskov struck a more defiant tone, saying Russia would consider the proposal but warned that “pressure won’t work on us.” Peskov also dismissed the European statements as “confrontational.”

Ukraine has yet to officially respond to Putin’s invitation.

Putin has accused Ukraine of ignoring previous Russian proposals for temporary ceasefires, including one linked to Easter and another during World War II commemorations in April. Ukraine dismissed those offers as mere political theatre and has instead continued to call for a longer, 30-day truce.

Despite some decline in fighting during the short ceasefire, both sides accused each other of violations. Ukraine claimed more than 700 Russian breaches, while Russia said it recorded nearly 500 from Ukrainian forces.

Still, Putin insisted that Moscow was willing to return to the negotiating table—this time with no strings attached.

“This could be the beginning of real peace,” he said. “Not just a pause before more violence.”

Meanwhile, Trump reacted positively to the announcement, calling it a “potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine” and vowed to keep working with both sides toward a peaceful resolution.

The last time Russian and Ukrainian officials held direct peace talks was in 2022, shortly after the war began.

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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.

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