The leaders of France, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom convened at a train station in Kyiv for a significant diplomatic visit, where they were greeted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This visit coincided with a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II, during which the leaders honored fallen Ukrainian soldiers by laying flowers at a makeshift memorial located in Independence Square.
This occasion marked a historic moment as it was the first instance of the four leaders traveling together to Ukraine. Additionally, this visit was noteworthy for Friedrich Merz, who was making his inaugural trip to Ukraine as Germany's newly appointed chancellor.
In a concerted effort to promote peace, the European leaders, alongside U.S. President Donald Trump, are advocating for Russia to consent to a 30-day ceasefire. This initiative aims to facilitate peace discussions aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Earlier in March, the United States proposed an immediate truce for 30 days, which Ukraine accepted; however, the Kremlin has sought terms that are more favorable to its interests.
In a joint statement, the leaders expressed their commitment, stating, “We reiterate our backing for President Trump’s calls for a peace deal and call on Russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace. Alongside the US, 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."
Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak addressed the situation on his Telegram account, asserting, “There is a lot of work, a lot of topics to discuss. We need to end this war with a just peace. We need to force Moscow to agree to a ceasefire."
Later in the day, the European leaders and President Zelenskyy were scheduled to host a virtual meeting to brief other international leaders on advancements regarding the formation of a “coalition of the willing.” This coalition aims to support Ukraine's armed forces following a peace agreement and may involve deploying troops to Ukraine to oversee any future peace arrangements with Russia.
