In a bold diplomatic move, the leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Poland have jointly called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to implement a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, starting Monday—or face severe new sanctions.
The demand was delivered during a symbolic visit to Kyiv on Saturday, bolstered by a joint call with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the European leaders—French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk—called for an immediate halt to all hostilities on land, at sea, and in the air.
“If it’s unconditional, it means no conditions,” Zelensky declared. “Any effort to attach conditions is an attempt to prolong the war and obstruct diplomacy.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded by reiterating Russia’s opposition to external pressure. While acknowledging that President Putin supports the concept of a ceasefire “in general,” he said the proposal “raises many questions” that must be addressed before any commitments are made.
Russia now has less than 36 hours to respond. The proposal includes the rapid deployment of a satellite-based mechanism for monitoring and secure communication to ensure compliance.
The four European leaders arrived together by train and were welcomed by Zelensky’s chief of staff. Their visit began with a solemn tribute to Ukraine’s fallen soldiers at Kyiv’s Independence Square, followed by a private three-hour meeting at Mariinsky Palace. A conference call with President Trump followed, which Ukrainian officials described as “positive and concrete.”
Efforts to broker a ceasefire have intensified over the past two months, with Ukraine and its allies pushing for a sustained halt to the fighting. Moscow has voiced conditional support, but continues to raise objections, including demands to restrict Western military aid and renewed warnings over NATO’s eastward expansion.
President Trump, writing on Truth Social, warned that if Russia fails to honor the proposed ceasefire, the U.S. and its allies will move forward with harsher economic penalties. “If the ceasefire is not respected,” he wrote, “further sanctions are coming.”
Despite Russia’s declaration of a 72-hour unilateral ceasefire surrounding its Victory Day celebrations, Ukrainian forces reported renewed artillery strikes just minutes after it began. Video evidence obtained by media outlets shows a buildup of Russian forces, undermining claims of compliance.
So far, the Kremlin has favored short, unilateral truces over any lasting commitment. The latest such ceasefire is set to expire at midnight.
Meanwhile, Moscow’s May 9 Victory Day parade was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, signaling continued support from some global players despite mounting international pressure.
Ukrainian officials reported hundreds of Russian attacks across the front line during the brief ceasefire window. While large-scale missile and drone strikes on major cities have paused since Wednesday, the risk remains. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv issued a security alert on Friday, warning of a possible “significant air attack” in the coming days.
