European Leaders in Kyiv to Push for 30-Day Ceasefire…

As part of the “Coalition of Volunteers,” French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited the memorial at Kyiv’s Independence Square honoring fallen Ukrainian soldiers before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the capital.

Following the summit, the leaders made this joint statement:

“We reaffirm our support for President Trump’s call for a peace agreement and urge Russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure a lasting peace. Together with the United States, we call on Russia to accept a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create space for negotiations toward a just and durable peace.”

The U.S. had proposed a 30-day ceasefire in March, which Ukraine accepted. However, the Kremlin refused, insisting on its own ceasefire terms.

President Macron, who traveled to Kyiv on the same train as the other leaders, emphasized the need for direct negotiations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation as part of the 30-day ceasefire plan. He also warned of significantly tougher sanctions should Moscow refuse to comply.

The Kyiv summit came just one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin gathered over 20 foreign leaders—including Chinese President Xi Jinping—for Moscow’s May 9 Victory Day parade, a timing seen as highly symbolic.

Source: Euronews Türkçe