In a major diplomatic push to halt the ongoing conflict, leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland arrived in Ukraine’s capital on Saturday and called on Russia to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting next week.
The high-level visit, the first joint mission of its kind since the Russian invasion began over three years ago, saw French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrive together by train from neighbouring Poland. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk later joined the group in Kyiv for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“There is a lot of work to do, a lot of topics to discuss. We must end this war with a just peace. We must force Moscow to agree to a ceasefire,” said Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to President Zelenskyy, in a statement shared on social media, accompanied by photographs of the leaders being welcomed at the station.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed Kyiv’s willingness to enter a “full, unconditional ceasefire” with Russia for at least 30 days, effective Monday. The proposal is backed by the visiting European leaders and the United States.
The push for a ceasefire also comes amid renewed efforts by US President Donald Trump, who has proposed a 30-day truce to open the door for broader peace negotiations. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far shown little inclination to support the move.
The European leaders' visit to Kyiv follows a defiant speech by President Putin at a military parade in Moscow, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, correspondent Zein Basravi described the visit as “symbolic”, yet added that behind the scenes, practical discussions were underway with an aim to unify Western positions and encourage American involvement in any upcoming peace process.
Following the in-person discussions, the five leaders held a joint phone call with President Trump to coordinate their peace efforts. “If Russia agrees and effective monitoring is ensured, a durable ceasefire and confidence-building measures can pave the way to peace negotiations,” said Sybiha in a post on X.
In a joint statement released ahead of their visit, the European leaders, alongside the United States, called on Russia to accept the proposed truce. “We call on Russia to agree to a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace,” the statement read.
They added that they stood ready to support technical implementation of the ceasefire and assist in preparations for a comprehensive peace deal, should Russia choose to engage constructively.
