The leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Poland have issued a unified demand to Russian President Vladimir Putin: agree to a 30-day ceasefire starting Monday or face sweeping sanctions.
The message was delivered during a symbolic visit to Kyiv, backed by a joint call with US President Donald Trump.
Standing beside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the leaders — French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk — insisted the ceasefire be observed on land, at sea, and in the air. If successful, it would lay the groundwork for immediate peace negotiations.“The unconditional ceasefire means no conditions,” Zelensky said.
“Any attempt to impose conditions is a signal to drag out the war and block diplomacy.” he added.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded, saying Russia is “resistant to any kind of pressure,” though he confirmed Putin supports the idea of a ceasefire “in general.” He added, however, that there are “lots of questions” about the proposal that still need to be addressed.
The demand gives Russia fewer than 36 hours to respond. It also requires rapid implementation of a satellite-based monitoring and communication mechanism.
The four European leaders arrived together by train early Saturday and were welcomed by Zelensky’s chief of staff. They first paid tribute to Ukraine’s fallen soldiers at Independence Square, followed by a private meeting at Mariinsky Palace that lasted over three hours. Afterward, they held a conference call with President Trump, which Ukrainian officials described as “positive and concrete.”
For the past two months, Ukraine and its European allies have pushed for a ceasefire. Russia, while agreeing in principle, has raised objections, including calls to halt the flow of Western weapons to Ukraine. Putin has also repeated concerns over NATO’s expansion, framing it as a core issue in the conflict.
In a recent Truth Social post, Trump warned that “if the ceasefire is not respected, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions,” signaling growing frustration with Moscow.
While Russia declared a 72-hour unilateral ceasefire around its Victory Day commemorations, Ukrainian forces reported renewed artillery fire just minutes past midnight. Video evidence presented to media outlets showed a large buildup of Russian troops and armor, contradicting the ceasefire claims.
Despite these developments, the Kremlin has stuck to offering short-term, unilateral ceasefires rather than committing to a longer truce. The latest is set to expire at midnight
The May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, underscoring Russia’s ongoing push for international legitimacy amid increasing global pressure.
Meanwhile, Ukraine reported hundreds of Russian attacks across the front lines during the supposed ceasefire. Though large-scale missile and drone strikes on cities have paused since Wednesday, the threat remains. The US embassy in Kyiv issued a security alert Friday, citing intelligence about a potential “significant air attack” in the coming days
