In a powerful show of solidarity with Ukraine, the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom made an unprecedented joint visit to Kyiv on Saturday, vowing to intensify pressure on Russia to agree to a full and unconditional ceasefire.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reaffirm their unified stance against Russia’s continued aggression and to support ongoing peace efforts. It is the first time leaders of the four nations have visited Ukraine together since Russia launched its full-scale invasion over three years ago.
Their visit comes just one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s defiant speech during a parade in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Against that backdrop, the European leaders issued a joint statement calling on Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire, echoing a recent proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump as a step toward lasting peace.
“We are ready to support peace talks as soon as possible,” the leaders stated, emphasizing that any ceasefire must allow Ukraine to remain “a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders.”
Chancellor Merz, who took office only this week, was making his first visit to Kyiv. Macron, meanwhile, returned to Ukraine for the first time since 2022. The leaders also announced plans to brief other European states on efforts to establish a European security force that could assist Ukraine post-war and help rebuild its armed forces.
The visit also aimed to counter Russian obstruction in peace negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, speaking to ABC, dismissed the ceasefire proposal, insisting that Ukraine must halt weapons imports from its allies before any truce can be considered. He claimed such a ceasefire would advantage Ukraine as Russian forces continue making battlefield gains.
Despite such resistance, the European leaders reiterated their commitment to escalating support for Ukraine and warned of increased sanctions should Russia continue to block peace efforts. Macron also called for a coordinated US-European plan, backed by harsh economic penalties, in the event that either side undermines the proposed ceasefire.
The symbolic timing of the visit, just a day after Putin hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Moscow, was not lost on observers. A French presidential official described it as a demonstration of Europe’s unity, strength, and readiness to act in the face of continued aggression.
Written By Rodney Mbua.
