THE Emmanuel Macronalong with the Friedrich MertzDonald Tusk and Kir Starmer are in Kiev to express their support for Ukraine and to ask Russia to accept a “full and unconditional” 30 -day truce.
Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Mertz and Star star arrived with train early Saturday morning (10.5.2025) in Kyiv in a high compromise move.
The visit of the leaders of France, Germany, Britain and Poland, symbolically responds to Celebrations held yesterday Friday in Moscow For the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and about 20 foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jing.
“We continue to increase our support in Ukraine. We are intensifying our pressure on the Russian war machine until Russia receives a truce that will last, “the four leaders said in a joint statement yesterday.
Macron, Starmer, Mertz and Tusk participate with Zelenski at a web conference with other leaders of the “alliance of the willing”, Western countries – mainly European countries – ready to offer “security guarantees” in Ukraine. Among the leaders involved is Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
European leaders go to Kiev reinforced by the call of US President Donald Trump, who pressed Russia on Thursday to accept “unconditionally 30 -day truce” while threatening Moscow with new sanctions in the event of refusing.
Russia, which currently controls 20% of the Ukrainian territory, “is avoiding, settings, saving time and continuing its invasion war,” Macron complained in a post on X today, shortly before reaching Kiev.
Emmanuel Macron reiterated his threat to New sanctions ‘much tougher’ at the expense of Russia, If she refuses to accept a truce, according to an interview with French TF1 and LCI television networks on the train that carried him to Kiev.
At the same time, Macron called for “immediate negotiations” between Ukraine and Russia. In the case of a 30-day truce, “we start immediate Ukraine-Russia talks. We are ready to help, “he assured.
Corresponding was the reaction of the German Chancellor who also threatened Moscow that “the sanctions will harden” to the detriment of her, if she refuses the truce, In an interview with the Bild newspaper.
If the Kremlin refuses, “then the sanctions will be hard to harden and the massive assistance to Ukraine will continue. In the political part, of course, but also in economic and political, “Merz stressed.
In a joint announcement issued yesterday by the four European leaders, they pointed out that “we reiterate our support for President Trump’s calls in favor of a peacekeeping agreement and ask Russia to cease to raise obstacles”.
“On the side of the US, we call on Russia to accept a complete and unconditional 30 -day truce in order to be able to hold talks aimed at a fair peace with duration,” they added.
“Russia is not ready for negotiations”
Speaking to the US television network ABC, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov estimated that before a ceasefire would have to stop west weapons in Kiev, as otherwise “Ukraine will be in an advantage”.
“Ukraine will continue full recruitment, bringing new troops to the front,” he added. “Ukraine will be taking advantage of this period to train new military personnel and offer a respite to the existing one. So why give this advantage to Ukraine? “He asked.
Peskov also said that Kiev is not ready for negotiations.
“President Putin does everything possible to solve the problem, to achieve a settlement through peaceful and diplomatic media. But as there are no peaceful and diplomatic means available, we must continue the military operation, “the Kremlin spokesman said.
Russia, he added, hoped that Trump’s mediation would help to have a “little more flexibility, A little more political will and wisdom than the Kiev regime. “
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Ukraine warned yesterday of the risk of a major “air attack” by Russia in the coming days.
Ukrainian media reported today that Russia has informed about the closure of its airspace over military installations used in 2024 to launch the latest generation of Russian rocket Orechnik, which may mean that Moscow is preparing for a new balloon.