The leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Poland have come together to demand that Russian President Vladimir Putin agree to a 30-day ceasefire starting Monday, or else face significant sanctions.
This message was conveyed during a meaningful visit to Kyiv, where they were joined by U.S. President Donald Trump. Standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the European leaders—French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk—emphasized that the ceasefire should be respected on land, at sea, and in the air.
"If successful, this ceasefire could pave the way for immediate peace talks. "
Zelensky- stressed that " unconditional ceasefire means there should be no conditions attached, warning that any attempt to impose conditions would only prolong the conflict and hinder diplomatic efforts."
In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is resistant to pressure but acknowledged that Putin is generally 'supportive of a ceasefire.'
However, he mentioned that there are still many questions regarding the proposal that need to be clarified. The ultimatum gives Russia less than 36 hours to respond and requires the quick setup of a satellite-based monitoring and communication system.
The four European leaders arrived in Kyiv by train early Saturday and were greeted by Zelensky’s chief of staff.
They first honored Ukraine’s fallen soldiers at Independence Square before holding a private meeting at Mariinsky Palace that lasted over three hours.
Following this, they had a conference call with President Trump, which Ukrainian officials described as positive and concrete. For the last two months, Ukraine and its European allies have been advocating for a ceasefire, but while Russia has shown some willingness, it has raised objections, including demands to stop the flow of Western weapons to Ukraine and concerns about NATO's expansion, which it sees as a key issue in the conflict.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his frustration with Moscow, warning that "United States and its allies would impose additional sanctions if the ceasefire is not upheld. "
Although Russia announced a 72-hour unilateral ceasefire in conjunction with its Victory Day celebrations, Ukrainian forces reported renewed artillery attacks shortly after midnight, with media footage revealing a significant concentration of Russian troops and military equipment, undermining the ceasefire's validity.
Despite these incidents, the Kremlin has continued to propose only short-term, unilateral ceasefires, with the latest one set to expire at midnight. The May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, highlights Russia's 'efforts to gain international legitimacy amid escalating global scrutiny.'