Ukraine-Russia struggle newest: Starmer says Europe and Trump are ‘calling Putin out’ to agree full 30-day ceasefire
Ukraine and its allies are ready for a “full and unconditional ceasefire” with Russia to start on Monday, the Ukrainian foreign minister has said.
The announcement comes after EU leaders and Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky had a call with US president Donald Trump to discuss their proposals for the pause in fighting.
French president Emmanuel Macron told French media ahead of the Kyiv meeting that European leaders would threaten Russia with further sanctions if they did not respect a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine.
The leaders of France, Germany, Poland and the UK are all in Kyiv for the meeting.In a joint statement before their arrival, Sir Keir, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Mertz and Donald Tusk said that they are “ready to support peace talks as soon as possible”.
The leaders are pushing Putin to commit to a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire and said they will “ratchet up pressure” on Russia.
German Chancellor ‘moved’ to stand together with EU allies
The new German chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that he is “moved” that he is allowed to stand with EU allies and fight for Ukraine.
Reflecting on the legacy of the Second World War, he said: “The end of the Second World War is an obligation for Germany to stand up for freedom throughout the world. I am moved that I am allowed to stand in this circle today and say to Ukraine: We stand firmly by your side”.
Sir Keir Starmer and other leaders had ‘warm’ 20 minute call with Trump
Sir Keir Starmer and other European leaders updated US President Donald Trump on the progress made on the so-called “coalition of the willing” plans for Ukraine when they spoke on Saturday, it is understood.
The call was unplanned and lasted around 20 minutes and was described as “warm” by a UK source.
Watch: European leaders join Zelensky to lay flowers at war memorial in Kyiv
Former Russian president Medvedev accuses EU leaders of ‘blurting out threats against Russia’
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has reacted to the European leaders’ calls for a ceasefire and accused them of “blurting out threats against Russia”.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Medvedev, who is now deputy chair of Russia’s security council, said: “Macron, Merz, Starmer and Tusk were supposed to discuss peace in Kiev. Instead, they are blurting out threats against Russia.”
He then told them to “shove these peace plans”.
This is a new era of European power, Macron says
French president Emmanuel Macron has said that the meeting in Kyiv between Ukraine’s president and the leaders of France, the UK, Germany and Poland, is a “history moment for European defence”.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Mr Macron, said: “What’s happening with Poland, Germany and Great Britain is a historic moment for European defence and toward a greater independence for our security. Obviously for Ukraine, but for all of us.
“It’s a new era. It’s a Europe that sees itself as a power.”
European leaders hold call with Donald Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the visiting leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland held a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Saturday and discussed their peace efforts, the Ukrainian foreign minister said.
Andrii Sybiha added: “Ukraine and all allies are ready for a full unconditional ceasefire on land, air, and at sea for at least 30 days starting already on Monday.”
Following a virtual call with leaders in the ‘coalition of the willing’, Nato leader Rutte also said it was “clear from our meeting today that we are committed and continue to stand with Ukraine”.
Slovak PM says his country wants to be closer to Russia
Slovak prime minister Robert Fico said on Friday his country wanted to develop relations with Russia, and he derided those in the European Union who he said created obstacles to his attendance at World War Two commemorations in Moscow.
Mr Fico broke ranks with the EU by visiting Moscow late last year, more than two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin late on Friday evening following the Red Square parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.
“As a head of government, I want to assure you that it is in my interest to have pragmatic relations with the Russian Federation,” Russian news agencies quoted Fico as telling Putin.
He said he opposed the creation of any new “iron curtain and pledge to do everything so that we can shake hands across a curtain”.
“Let us consider as a childish joke all the technical problems we confronted, created by our European Union colleagues.”
Ukraine ready for ‘full, unconditional ceasefire’
Ukraine and its allies are ready for a “full, unconditional ceasefire” with Russia for at least 30 days starting on Monday, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said.
His remarks came as the leaders of four major European countries visited Kyiv, amid a push for Moscow to agree to a truce and launch peace talks on ending the nearly three-year war.
New photos from European leaders’ meeting in Kyiv
Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Tusk and Friedrich Merz are in Kyiv for a meeting with the Ukrainian president.
The meeting, which is bringing together a ‘coalition of the willing’, will consider the terms of a peace deal between Ukraine and Moscow and how to implement a temporary ceasefire.
EU commission chief says ‘ball is now in Russia’s court’
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has said that the “ball is now in Russia’s court” to agree on a 30-day ceasefire in the Ukraine war.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Ms von der Leyen said: “We support the proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire. It must be implemented without preconditions to pave the way for meaningful peace negotiations.
“The ball is now in Russia’s court. We stand ready to maintain strong pressure on Russia and impose further biting sanctions in the event of a breach of a ceasefire.
“Our objective is clear: a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, which is vital for security and stability across our continent”.
Source: independent.co.uk
