The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland travelled to Kyiv on Saturday in a display of support for Ukraine, one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin staged a military parade in Moscow intended to project international solidarity.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a summit focused on the prospect of a 30-day ceasefire in the war, now in its fourth year. The proposal, jointly put forward by the United States and key European powers, would be contingent upon Russian acceptance, with new sanctions under consideration should Moscow refuse.
The four leaders arrived by train in the Ukrainian capital, where their arrival was marked by a screen reading “Bravery Express”. The delegation was accompanied by Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska on a visit to Maidan Square, followed by a tribute at a memorial honouring Ukrainian soldiers killed since the February 2022 full-scale invasion.
In a joint statement issued during the visit, the leaders stated:
“Alongside the U.S., we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.”
This marks the first time the heads of government of these four countries have travelled together to Ukraine. The symbolic visit comes amid ongoing uncertainty in the broader diplomatic landscape. U.S. President Donald Trump, who took office in January, has expressed dissatisfaction with the current pace of peace efforts and has pressed both Kyiv and Moscow to accept a temporary ceasefire.
Although Trump initially suspended military aid to Ukraine and criticised Zelenskyy publicly, relations have stabilised in recent weeks. Washington and Kyiv recently concluded a mineral resources agreement after extended negotiations. Trump has warned Moscow that failure to show movement on ceasefire discussions could lead to the imposition of additional sanctions and suggested that the United States could abandon the peace initiative entirely if no progress is made.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has stated he is prepared to observe a 30-day ceasefire immediately. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Moscow is open to the proposal, but added that Western military support for Ukraine would have to cease for such a pause to be considered credible. “Otherwise it will be an advantage for Ukraine,” Peskov told ABC.
Ukraine’s government dismissed Moscow’s previously announced ceasefire, declared unilaterally from 8 to 10 May, as insincere. Both sides have since accused each other of violating the truce. Reporters from Reuters stationed at a field hospital near the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region witnessed continued casualties from hostilities.
“There hasn’t been any ceasefire,” said one wounded Ukrainian soldier, identifying himself as Stanislav. “Shelling has continued just as before.”
The summit in Kyiv coincides with an intensified diplomatic push from EU states to establish accountability for alleged Russian war crimes. European foreign ministers reiterated their backing for a special tribunal aimed at prosecuting Russian officials for crimes of aggression. The move was welcomed by Zelenskyy, who on Thursday condemned Putin’s Victory Day parade as a “parade of bile and lies”.
Friday’s events in Moscow saw Putin hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping and other allied leaders at a Red Square parade commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. The gathering was intended to counter Western narratives of Russia’s diplomatic isolation.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials warned of a possible escalation in hostilities. On the eve of the summit, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv advised American citizens of the risk of “potentially significant” Russian air strikes and recommended readiness to seek shelter in case of alarms.
Speaking on Saturday, Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, said: “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.” Photographs of the leaders’ arrival at Kyiv’s central railway station were posted on Yermak’s official channel.
Later in the day, the visiting leaders were expected to hold a joint press conference and to host a virtual session with international partners. The discussions will include further planning for what has been described as a “coalition of the willing”, intended to help restore Ukraine’s military capacity across air, land and maritime domains following any ceasefire or peace settlement.
Despite the show of Western unity, there remains scepticism in Kyiv over Moscow’s intentions. “The ball is in Moscow’s court,” Zelenskyy said during a recent call with Trump, reiterating that a verifiable 30-day ceasefire would represent a meaningful step towards serious negotiations.
Photo: Andriy Yermak / X
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