Their pressure on Russia in order to proceed immediately to agreement on truce with Ukraine European leaders are stepping up, even threatening Moscow by imposing new sanctions otherwise.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski and leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland today had a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, discussing the efforts of peace and truce, Ukrakian Foreign Minister said.
In a post on X, Simbica said that Ukraine and all of its allies are ready for a complete and unconditional truce in the ground, the sea and the air for at least 30 days, starting on Monday.
He described the telephone conversation as “productive”.
‘Truce now or sanctions’ say Europeans
The French President Emmanuel Macronthe German Chancellor Friedrich Mertzthe British Prime Minister Star star and the Polish Prime Minister Donald TuskThey went to Kiev reinforced by the appeal of US President Donald Trump, who pressed Russia on Thursday to receive a “unconditional 30 -day truce” in Ukraine, 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.
The French president reiterated his threat to new “much tougher” sanctions against 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 “sanctions would harden” against her, if she refuses the truce, in an interview with the Bild newspaper.
However, Mertz rejected the US president’s recommendation for elections in Ukraine, while in favor of the European decision to set up a special court to investigate Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
In an interview with the Bild newspaper from Kiev, Mertz spoke of a “surprisingly high degree of agreement” with the US regarding the war in Ukraine, but also pointed out the difference in views of the presidential election in the country. “The Ukrainian Constitution stipulates that the elections cannot be held in times of war. I think we should all respect it. President Zelenski is the legally elected president of this country and our interlocutor,” Mr Mertz said, referring to his repeatedly stated
The Chancellor was on the other hand, in favor of the EU ruling on the establishment of a special court to examine Russian war crimes in Ukraine. “It is of course self -evident. Russia commits the most serious crimes under the leadership (Vladimir) Putin, and of course these war crimes must one day be punished. There are international institutions for this reason and, as EU Foreign Ministers right yesterday, they must do so. “
‘The ball is on the Russian stadium’
At the same time, European Commission President Ursula von der Laien has today supported the 30 -day ceasefire proposal in Ukraine, stressing that the European Union is ready to impose more harsh sanctions on Russia in the event of a violation of a truce.
Today, the Coalition of the Willing convened.
We support the proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
It must be implemented without preconditions to pave the way for meaningful peace negotiations.
The ball is now in Russia’s court.
We stand ready to maintain…
– Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 10, 2025
“The ball is now on the Russian stadium,” he wrote.
‘Threats to sanctions have no meaning’
European leaders’ warnings about new sanctions in Russia if Moscow does not agree on a 30 -day immediate truce in Ukraine have been commented by Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, saying that “we are used to sanctions”.
“We know what to do to minimize the effects of sanctions when announced. We have learned to do this. It makes no sense to try to scare us with these sanctions, “he said.
At the same time, he noted that “some Europeans are annoyed that many leaders have chosen to celebrate Niki Day with Russia.”
It is recalled that more than 20 leaders of countries yesterday (9.5.25) Chinese President, Xi Jing, participated with Russian President Vladimir Putin At the Moscow festivities for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
In another development, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced today that the Ukrainian forces had made four more attempts in the last 24 hours to break Russian defense along the border line in the areas of Kursk and Bielgorod.
Reuters was not able to confirm it immediately.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said the Russian Armed Forces still adhere to the three -day unilateral truce in Ukraine, which is expiring at midnight today (local time).
Ukraine, for its part, says Russia is continuing its attacks, describing the truce.