Britain’s leaders, France, Germany and Poland arrived together on Saturday to Kiev for their very first joint visit to Ukraine and committed themselves to intensify the pressure on Russia until it agreed with a complete, unconditional 30 -day truce.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andria Sybiha published a photograph of President Volodymyra Zlensky and four other European leaders curled around the phone, as Mr. Sybiha said, spoke to President Trump.
“Ukraine and all allies are ready for full unconditional ceasefire on the ground, air and sea for at least 30 days, starting Monday,” Mr. Sybiha wrote on social media. “If Russia is ensured and effective monitoring is ensured, resistant measures for ceasefire and building confidence can prepare the way to peace actions.”
The visit was to emphasize the permanent commitment of Europe to defend Ukraine and the sovereignty after more than three years of war with Russia. It came one day after the celebration of Russia on the 80s. The anniversary of the end of World War II, during which President Vladimir V. Putin welcomed President Xi Jinping from China and other foreign dignitaries to Moscow for a military parade to screen Russian power and Mr. Putin’s offer to change the global order.
Both events crystallized both the changing outlines of the war in Ukraine and the wider geopolitical shift since Mr. Trump was in office. Mr. Trump has in a few months reverse the basic principles of US foreign policyand presided over weakening a transatlantic bond This helped build Europe on the way to peace after the cataclys of World War II.
Currently, Ukraine is caught among encouraged Russia, floated by China, North Korea and Iran; and Europe Mix to fill in the void left the United States.
It has been more than 120 days since the United States announced a new round of military assistance in Ukraine. It remains unclear whether Trump’s administration plans to spend the remaining $ 3.85 billion that Congress allowed for further selections from the Ministry of Defense supplies for Kiev.
Most Washington’s pressure brought to end the fight, was focused on Kiev, although Mr. Trump recently showed flashes with Moscow.
European leaders hope that frustration can lead Washington to take steps towards direct pressure on Moscow, a possible increase in sanctions on oil and gas income that the Kremlin uses to finance its war effort.
“Together with the US, we are inviting Russia to agree with the complete and unconditional 30 -day ceasefire to create space for conversations about fair and lasting peace,” the European leaders said in a joint statement before their visit. “We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. As long as Russia disagrees with a permanent ceasefire, we will increase the pressure on the Russian war machine.”
French President, Emmanuel Macron; New German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz; British Prime Minister Keir Starmer; And the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, began his visit to Kiev with a ceremonial tribute to thousands of Ukrainian soldiers killed in battle and laid flowers on a temporary memorial in the center of the capital.
European leaders said they would discuss ways to strengthen the Ukrainian army to ensure that any future peace agreement could prove permanent. Together with President Volodymyr Zelenky from Ukraine were scheduled to organize virtual briefing with other world leaders who make up a group that calls “Coalition willing”.
In the coming weeks, however, they test whether European determination and resources can correspond to the scope of the challenge, as the outcome of the war is becoming increasingly becoming a problem for Europe.
Despite the months of frenetic diplomatic activities and mentioned Mr. Trump’s desire to end the fighting, the abyss separating the warring parties is as deep as it is always.
Kyiv agreed with an unconditional 30 -day truce Proposed by the United States. At the same time, Ukraine is competing to build their home weapons production and its European allies increase their military assistance. Although Russia agrees with the ceasefire, Ukraine and its allies believe that the only way to ensure permanent peace is through military power.
The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, said on Saturday that Russia remained against any ceasefire if the Western nations continued to provide military assistance to Ukraine, according to the Russian press agency.
Mr. Putin said he wanted to keep control over about 20 percent of Ukraine, which had conquered his forces, but that Kiev wanted to give up the wide divorces of Eastern and Southern Ukraine, which his army could not capture.
The visit to Kiev was the first for Mr. Merz. Before going on the road, he warned that if Russia disagrees with the ceasefire: “There will be a massive hardening of sanctions and massive assistance to Ukraine will continue – politically, but also financially and military.”
“The ball is now at Putin’s court,” he said. “Putin must respond to this offer.”
