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The leaders of France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom will travel to Kyiv on Saturday, amidst the international renewed calls for Russia to agree with a sustainable ceasefire and engage in peace talks.
The visit aims to show Western solidarity with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Vladimir Putin of Russia received the leaders of China and Brazil on the parade of Moscow’s victory day celebrating 80 years after the end of World War II.
The new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, will join French President Emmanuel Macron and British and Polish prime ministers Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Tusk in the Ukraine capital – the first quartet trip since Merz became the beginning of this month.
In a joint statement issued before the visit, the leaders requested a 30-day ceasefire to strengthen the negotiations led by the US aiming to end the war.
“We, the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, will stay in solidarity with Ukraine against Russia’s barbaric and illegal occupation,” they said, adding that they fully support US President Donald Trump’s calls for a peace agreement and urged Russia to stop the obstacles to secure a stable peace. ”
“We are clear that bleeding must end, Russia must stop its illegal occupation, and Ukraine must be able to progress as a safe, safe and sovereign nation within its internationally recognized borders for generations to come.”
Zelenskyy said Friday that Ukraine remained ready for “a reliable and stable ceasefire for at least 30 days”.
Trump’s 30-day proposed ceasefire was previously supported by Kyiv but Putin never agreed with him. The Russian leader has pledged to stop attacks during the holidays and the energy infrastructure in Ukraine, but his forces have continued to hit civil areas in almost every region of the country in recent months.
Ballistic missiles and drones hit Kyiv earlier this week, killing a mother and son. The attack came two weeks after another in the Ukrainian capital that killed 12 and injured more than 80.
European leaders said they were prepared to support talks between Ukraine and Russia and explore how the ceasefire could be implemented to “prepare for a full peace agreement”.
People familiar with the leaders’ agenda on Saturday told The Financial Times of SH.BA, Europe and Ukraine are close to the end of a plan for a 30-day unconditional initial ceasefire that would see them impose fierce new sanctions on Russia if the Kremlin refused to go together and continue his full war.
The EU on Friday called for “a complete ceasefire, unconditional for at least 30 days” saying it belonged to Russia “to show its willingness to achieve peace.” The statement was issued by the head of the Block Diplomat Kaja Kalas and supported by all its 27 members, including Hungary and Slovakia who had previously refused to sign in such statements.
EU foreign ministers from about 20 nations on Friday traveled to the western city of Ukraine in Lviv, where they declared their support for a special court to prosecute Russian officials for war crimes committed by Moscow forces during the war. The court will be established on the basis of a joint agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe, the High Human Rights Body of the continent.
On Friday, the United Kingdom announced new sanctions on the “shadow fleet” of Russia of used ships to transfer oil worldwide, avoiding restrictions imposed by Western nations after Putin began his full -scale occupation of Ukraine in February 2022.
“Stepdo a step that limits the Kremlin’s ability to finance its war closer to peace. The United Kingdom is once again demonstrating a leadership approach,” Zelenskyy said Friday, thanking Starmer.
“If Russia continues to withdraw the war, we will need stronger sanctions,” Zelenskyy said. “Especially if they break the ceasefire when it happens finally.”
During their visit on Saturday, leaders are expected to honor Ukraine’s soldiers killed in the war and respect them in the symbolic independence square of Kyiv. Other European counterparts will later join practically to discuss plans for a coalition that would support Ukrainian air, land and maritime protection, and help rebuild its army after any peace agreement and ensure its long -term security.
Additional reporting by Lucy Fisher in London and Henry Foy in Warsaw
