Ukraine and its allies are ready to implement a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire with Russia for at least 30 days starting this Monday, as announced by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Concurrently, Russian President Vladimir Putin is calling for direct negotiations next week.
This announcement comes as leaders from four major European countries visit Kyiv, increasing pressure on Moscow to agree to a truce and participate in peace talks to resolve the nearly three-year conflict. This follows what Sybiha called a ‘constructive’ dialogue among the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, President Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted that the coalition collectively reached out to President Trump to outline a unified strategy for the future. During a press conference on Saturday, Putin said that Moscow has consistently offered ceasefire proposals, accusing Kyiv of obstructing these initiatives. He also proposed resuming direct talks without preconditions on Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, asserting that such discussions would tackle the core issues of the conflict and facilitate a lasting and sustainable peace.
On Saturday, a three-day break from fighting that Russia announced ended. Ukraine says that Russia broke this ceasefire many times. In March, the United States proposed a brief 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine accepted; however, Russia is negotiating for better conditions.
Leaders from France, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom arrived together at Kyiv’s train station to meet President Zelenskyy for a solemn ceremony at Independence Square, commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War II’s conclusion. They lit candles at a memorial for fallen Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. This visit is historic, as it is the first time these four leaders have traveled to Ukraine together, and it marks Friedrich Merz’s first visit as Germany’s new chancellor.
On Thursday, Sybiha denounced the Russian ceasefire as a ‘farce,’ stating that Russian troops breached it more than 700 times within just a day of its initiation. Both parties recognized the continued assaults on their forces. ‘We reiterate our backing for President Trump’s appeals for a peace deal and call on Russia to cease hindering the pursuit of enduring peace,’ the leaders expressed in a united statement. ‘Together with the U.S., we implore Russia to consent to a thorough and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to facilitate talks for a just and lasting peace.’
Mr. Trump has called for both parties to quickly resolve the conflict; however, while Zelenskyy has agreed to an American proposal for a 30-day cessation of hostilities, Russia has not yet accepted it and continues its offensive along the extensive 1,000-mile front line, including deadly strikes on residential areas without clear military targets.
On Saturday morning, officials from Ukraine’s Sumy region reported that Russian shelling the day before led to the heartbreaking deaths of three people and injured four others. Moreover, a civilian man was killed instantly on Saturday when a Russian drone struck the southern city of Kherson, according to regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
At a press conference held in Kyiv, French President Emmanuel Macron remarked that the recent events concerning Poland, Germany, and Great Britain represent a significant milestone for European defense, indicating a heightened sense of autonomy in our security. This is undoubtedly vital for Ukraine, yet it also resonates with all of us. We are entering a new phase where Europe recognizes its own strength.
Former President Trump voiced doubts last week about President Putin’s willingness to end the conflict in Ukraine, questioning the likelihood of a quick peace deal and hinting at possible new sanctions against Russia. Since Mr. Trump returned to the White House, efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict have seemed increasingly out of reach, with his previous claims of imminent solutions not coming to fruition. He has suggested that Ukraine should give up territory to Russia to end the fighting, indicating he might pull back if negotiations become too tough.
Ukraine’s European allies view this conflict as crucial to the continent’s security, amplifying calls to consider military support for Kyiv—regardless of Mr. Trump’s potential withdrawal. Ukrainian presidential aide Andrii Yermak, who met with European leaders at Kyiv’s main train station, shared via Telegram earlier on Saturday: “There is a lot of work ahead, with many issues to discuss. We need to end this war with a fair peace and push Moscow to agree to a ceasefire.”
Later that day, the leaders held an online meeting with President Zelenskyy to update other leaders about the progress in creating a future ‘coalition of the willing’ that would help strengthen Ukraine’s military after a peace deal and might send troops to monitor any upcoming peace agreement with Russia.