Kiev, Ukraine-a demonstration of unity in Kiev on Saturday, leaders from four major European countries threatened to increase pressure if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not accept an unconditional ceasefire of 30 days.
The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland said that the proposal to start the cease -was supported by the US President Donald Trump, whom they reported by phone earlier this day. Their statement occurred amid growing efforts to convince Moscow to agree with a truce that would allow peace negotiations about the end of three years of war on a large scale.
The demand was announced at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and countries leading the so -called “coalition of will”: a group of more than 30 countries that have committed to strengthening Ukraine to prevent Russian aggression. They included French President Emmanuel Macron, first British minister Keir Stmerer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and first Polish minister Donald Tusk, who on Saturday traveled to Ukraine together for the first time.
The cease -Fogo would include a stop to fight on land, sea and air. Leaders threatened to increase sanctions, including Russia’s energy and banks, if Putin did not comply.
At the beginning of that day, Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kiev and his allies are ready to “cease -total and unconditional” with Russia for “at least 30 days” from Monday. He added the four visiting leaders and Zelenskyy had a “constructive” phone call with Trump.
Saturday marked the last day of a three-day unilateral ceasefire declared by Russia that Ukraine says that Kremlin’s forces repeatedly violated.
In March, the United States proposed an immediate and limited 30 -day truce, which Ukraine accepted, but Kremlin defended his taste more.
Building Ukraine’s military capabilities will be an important impediment against Russia, European leaders said on Saturday. This will require the supply of Ukraine with amounts of robust weapons to prevent future attacks and invest in its defense sector. A force consisting of foreign troops can also be implemented as an additional “security,” said Macron.
The French president added that the United States will take the lead in monitoring a proposed ceasefire, with support from European countries, and threatened “massive sanctions … prepared and coordinated between Europeans and Americans” if Russia violates the truce.
But he said details about possible European deployments to Ukraine were still being adjusted. No mention was made to NATO participation, yet the best choice of Kiev for a security guarantee.
The priority is to make the war very expensive for Russia to continue fighting, Sybiha told Ukraine to reporters on the sidelines of the event.
Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, a special envoy from Trump to Ukraine and Russia, said on Saturday that a 30-day “comprehensive” ceasefire, covering attacks from air, earth, sea and infrastructure, “will start the process to end Europe’s largest and longest war since II.”
At the beginning of Saturday, European leaders joined a ceremony at Kiev Independence Square, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. They lit candles alongside Zelenskyy in a makeshift flag memorial for soldiers and Ukrainian civilians killed since the invasion of Russia.
Trump pressured both sides to quickly reached an agreement to end the war, but while Zelenskyy agreed with the American plan for an initial 30 -day stop for hostilities, Russia did not sign. Instead, it maintained attacks along the front line of about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers), including deadly attacks on obvious residential residential areas.
On Saturday morning, local authorities in the Northern Sumy region of Ukraine said the Russian bombing last day killed three residents and injured four more. Another civilian died on Saturday when a Russian drone hit the city of Kherson, according to regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
Speaking to reporters in Kiev, French President Emmanuel Macron said: “What is happening to Poland, Germany and Britain is a historic moment for European defense and for greater independence for our security. Obviously, for Ukraine and all of us. It is a new era. It is a Europe that is seen as a power.”
Trump said last week that he doubts Putin wants to end his war in Ukraine, expressing a new skepticism that a peace agreement can be achieved soon and suggested other sanctions against Russia.
Progress at the end of the war seems indescribable in the months since Trump returned to the White House, and his previous claims of imminent advances have failed to realize. Trump had already pushed Ukraine to give up territory to Russia to end the war, threatening to leave if an agreement becomes very difficult.
Ukraine European allies see their destination as fundamental to the safety of the continent, and is now increasing the pressure to find ways to support Kiev militarily, regardless of Trump to retreat.