Ukraine and allies urge Putin to commit to a 30-day ceasefire or face new sanctions – state
Leaders from four major European countries threatened to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who brought up what they proposed in a strong unification show with Kyiv on Saturday if he did not accept Ukraine's 30-day unconditional ceasefire.
Leaders from France, Britain, Germany and Poland said their proposal to start a ceasefire on Monday was supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, who briefed it over the phone earlier in the day.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN on Saturday that Moscow will need to consider the proposal. Earlier in the day, Peskov reiterated Russia's claim that it was prepared to hold peace talks with Ukraine “without the premise” and accused Kief of blocking the talks.
Russia's own unilateral three-day ceasefire declared the 80th anniversary of its defeat of Nazi Germany, expired on Saturday, and Ukraine said Russian troops repeatedly violated Nazi forces. In March, the United States proposed a direct limited 30-day truce, which Ukraine accepted, but the Kremlin was already more satisfied.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to journalists with European leaders in Kyiv, calling their meeting a “very important signal”.
In a joint statement released on Zelenskyy's official website, five leaders called for a ceasefire from Monday to “last for at least 30 days” to make room for efforts to end the war.
“A unconditional ceasefire cannot be subject to any conditions,” the statement said. “If Russia requires such conditions, it can only be regarded as an effort to extend the war and undermine diplomacy.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said the United States would lead the surveillance of the proposed ceasefire with the support of European countries and threatened “massive sanctions between Europeans and Americans…prepared and coordinated” if Russia violated the truce.
Macron traveled to Kiev with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
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“It is Europe's step-up efforts and a demonstration of our solidarity with Ukraine,” Stamer said.
Trump’s special envoy to Trump Ukraine, retired lieutenant Keith Kellogg, said Saturday that the “full” 30-day ceasefire, covering attacks from the air, land, ocean and infrastructure, “will begin to end the process of the largest and longest war since World War II since Europe.”
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a series of bilateral dialogues with foreign officials on Saturday who participated in Moscow’s own celebrations, marking the failed celebration of Nazi Germany, which apparently attempted to highlight the West’s failure to isolate it on the global stage. Putin's interlocutors include Vietnamese Communist Party Secretary-General Lin, leaders of Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and Palestinian authorities.
Europe threatens more sanctions if Russia ignores ceasefire offers
In the months since Trump returned to the White House, progress to ending the Three Years’ War seemed elusive, with his previous claims about an upcoming breakthrough failing to come true. Trump had previously pushed Ukraine toward Russian territory to end the war and threatened to walk away when the deal became too difficult.
Russia has been attacking about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) of frontlines since the start of the U.S.-mediated talks, including a deadly strike in residential areas without obvious military targets.
The ceasefire will cease fighting on land, sea and air. If Putin fails to comply, European leaders threaten to strengthen sanctions, including Russia's energy and banking sectors.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the top priority is to keep Russia fighting in Ukraine.
When asked how the monitoring mechanism works, Sybiha told the Associated Press that details are still being discussed.
Melz doubts whether the new sanctions in Moscow, which have been fighting in the war so far, said: “Even if our weekend initiative fails, almost all EU member states and large alliances around the world are willing to enforce these sanctions.”
The leaders also discussed Ukraine's security assurances.
Building Kiev's military capabilities will be a key deterrent against Russia and demand a strong number of weapons for Ukraine to stop future attacks and invest in its defense sector. Macron said troops composed of foreign forces could also be deployed as “reliance” measures.
He said details about the potential deployment of Europe to Ukraine are still being fine-tuned. There is no mention of NATO membership, which remains the top choice for Kiev security guarantees.
Earlier on Saturday, European leaders attended a ceremony at Kiev’s Independence Square, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. They lighted candles with Zelenskyy in a temporary flag memorial, and Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have been killed since the Russian invasion.
Russian attacks continue
Local officials said that in the past day, Russian shelling in northern Ukraine's northern Sumi area killed three residents and injured four people. Another civilian died and Russian drones hit the southern city of Hessen, according to regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
On Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Kiev warned of “potential” Russian air strikes in the coming days without providing details.
In November, Russia issued a brief warning to the United States before its first attack on Ukraine with the Oreshnik intermediate ballistic missile, an experimental supersonic weapon that Putin claims can travel 10 times the speed of the sound.
Ukrainian Telegraph Channel links the embassy’s warnings to reports of Moscow’s ban in Kapustin Yar military training and rocket launch complex. Similar flight bans before the November strike. Russian officials did not immediately comment.
Trump said last week that he suspected Putin wanted to end his war in Ukraine and expressed new suspicion that a peace deal could be reached as soon as possible and hints further sanctions against Russia.
Ukraine's European allies believe its fate is the basis for security on the African continent, and pressure is increasingly looking for ways to support Kiev, regardless of whether Trump withdraws or not.
