Kyiv (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Saturday, the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, and Poland gathered in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for discussions, demonstrating solidarity a day after Russia’s Vladimir Putin held a Victory Day parade in Red Square with his allies.
The visit of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to Ukraine together.
The visit occurred on the last day of a ceasefire from May 8-10, which was declared by Putin but rejected by Ukraine as a sham. Both parties have accused one another of breaking it. Additionally, just before the summit, the U.S. embassy in Kyiv cautioned about a “potentially significant” airstrike expected in the upcoming days and advised its citizens to be prepared to take cover if air raid sirens sound.
What message did Western leaders send by visiting Kyiv?
As the train arrived in Kyiv, the platform’s screen displayed the arrival of the “Bravery Express. ” Zelenskiy joined them in paying respects at a memorial in central Kyiv to honour Ukrainian soldiers who lost their lives in the war.
As reported by Reuters, according to a French diplomatic source, the summit will address a U.S. and European proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine. If Moscow rejects this proposal, they will jointly implement new sanctions. However, this action has not yet been finalised.
“Alongside the U.S., we call on Russia to agree to a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace,” the four leaders expressed in a combined statement.
What are the goals of the proposed 30-day ceasefire?
On the other hand, Trump has warned of increasing sanctions on Russia, yet he indicated he might halt the peace initiative if no progress is made. On Thursday, he urged a 30-day ceasefire, to which Zelenskiy responded that he would be prepared to enact it right away. The European Union has also echoed the request for a 30-day ceasefire.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that Russia is in favour of a 30-day ceasefire, but only if specific “nuances” are taken into account. In his comments, Peskov indicated that Western military support for Ukraine must cease for a temporary ceasefire to occur. “Otherwise, it will be an advantage for Ukraine,” he remarked.
How did Putin counter Western unity with Victory Day?
Additionally, just a day prior, Putin welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders at a military parade in Red Square on Friday celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory against Nazi Germany in World War Two, conveying a bold message that he is not isolated.
On the same day, European ministers expressed their backing for a special tribunal aimed at prosecuting the Russian president and his officials for crimes of aggression. This demonstrated their support for Zelenskiy, who on Thursday ridiculed Putin for organising a “parade of bile and lies. “
