Ukraine and European leaders agreed on Saturday to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire on May 12 with the backing of President Donald Trump, threatening President Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply.
The announcement was made by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, after which they held a phone call with Trump.
“So all of us here together with the U.S. are calling Putin out. If he is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it,” Sir Keir Starmer told reporters at a news conference.
“No more ifs and buts, no more conditions and delays.”
The announcement comes after EU leaders and Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky had a call with Trump to discuss their proposals for the pause in fighting.
The leaders of France, Germany, Poland and the UK are all in Kyiv for the meeting.In a joint statement before their arrival, Sir Keir, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Mertz and Donald Tusk said that they are “ready to support peace talks as soon as possible”.
‘Together we are calling Putin out’ – Sir Keir Starmer says EU is stepping up solidarity with Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer has said the EU has learned the lessons of history with the ceasefire deal, a lesson which Putin has yet to grasp.
The announcement was made by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, after which they held a phone call with Trump. The US leader, who wants a rapid peace, has not commented publicly on the course of action.
“Russia has offered war instead of peace. Delays and smokescreens.
“So all of us here together with the US are calling Putin out. If he is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters at a news conference.
“No more ifs and buts, no more conditions and delays.”
He added: “If Putin turns his back on peace we will respond. We will ramp up sanctions and increase military support for Ukraine to pressure Russia back to the table.”
Keir Starmer will not respond to ceasefire announcement in Kyiv press conference
The PM is due to speak soon at a press conference in Kyiv. However, he will not respond to a ceasefire announcement.
That’s because the Ukrainian capital is a war zone – and it is too dangerous to broadcast press conferences live.
So the PM made his comments before the latest breakthrough between India and Pakistan was announced.
Macron says 30-day ceasefire to cover land, sea and air
French president Emmanuel Macron has said that President Donald Trump has agreed to sanction Russia.
In a briefing, he said: “The camp of peace is here, the camp of war is in Moscow. The future of our principles about collective responsibility is at stake.”
He called it a major step after the US proposed a 30-day ceasefire.
“A ceasefire without precondition. It will last 30 days at sea and land and air. It will be monitored mainly by the US.”
He called it a road to lasting peace. He added any violations to the ceasefire would result in “massive sanctions” decided by EU states.
Nato secretary general says ‘coalition of willing’ stands with Ukraine
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte has said that he joined more than 20 leaders for a virtual “coalition of the willing call” on Saturday morning “to advance efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine”.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he added: “This starts with a 30-day unconditional ceasefire and must be underpinned by continued, concrete support.
“It’s clear from our meeting today that we are committed and continue to stand with Ukraine”.
European leaders say Trump agreed to sanction Russia unless ceasefire agreed
Ukraine and European leaders have agreed an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from May 12 with the backing of President Donald Trump, threatening President Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply.
The announcement was made by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, during which they held a phone call with Trump.
Russia and Ukraine blame each other as fighting continues despite Moscow’s truce
Russia said on Saturday that fighting had been taking place in four regions of Ukraine despite this week’s unilateral ceasefire by Moscow, saying its troops had been forced to respond to Ukrainian attacks.
Ukraine says Russia has continued to attack it and has called the ceasefire a farce. It did not join the truce but is calling instead for a 30-day ceasefire that US President Donald Trump is urging the warring sides to agree.
In a statement, the Russian defence ministry said its forces were sticking to the ceasefire – which Ukraine denies – and remaining at previously occupied lines, but that they were retaliating against “violations” by Ukraine.
It alleged that Kyiv’s forces had mounted attacks in the Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine and near 12 different settlements in Donetsk region, which it said Russian troops had repelled.
A wounded Ukrainian soldier at a field hospital in Zaporizhzhia region told news agency Reuters on Friday night that “there hasn’t been any ceasefire” and nothing had changed. “Shelling has continued just as before, drones are flying just like before,” he said.
German Chancellor ‘moved’ to stand together with EU allies
The new German chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that he is “moved” that he is allowed to stand with EU allies and fight for Ukraine.
Reflecting on the legacy of the Second World War, he said: “The end of the Second World War is an obligation for Germany to stand up for freedom throughout the world. I am moved that I am allowed to stand in this circle today and say to Ukraine: We stand firmly by your side”.
Sir Keir Starmer and other leaders had ‘warm’ 20 minute call with Trump
Sir Keir Starmer and other European leaders updated US President Donald Trump on the progress made on the so-called “coalition of the willing” plans for Ukraine when they spoke on Saturday, it is understood.
The call was unplanned and lasted around 20 minutes and was described as “warm” by a UK source.
Watch: European leaders join Zelensky to lay flowers at war memorial in Kyiv
Former Russian president Medvedev accuses EU leaders of ‘blurting out threats against Russia’
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has reacted to the European leaders’ calls for a ceasefire and accused them of “blurting out threats against Russia”.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Medvedev, who is now deputy chair of Russia’s security council, said: “Macron, Merz, Starmer and Tusk were supposed to discuss peace in Kiev. Instead, they are blurting out threats against Russia.”
He then told them to “shove these peace plans”.
Source: independent.co.uk
