KYIV — On Saturday, European leaders intensified their calls for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine without any conditions. They warned that if Moscow fails to comply, Western allies would impose additional sanctions and escalate military support for Kyiv.
Significantly, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his support for the European demands and is prepared to assist in the enforcement and monitoring of a potential ceasefire, as stated by European officials.
“No more ifs and buts, no more conditions and delays,” said U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, emphasizing the need for Putin to accept the ceasefire and engage in discussions for a lasting peace agreement.
Starmer, along with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the presidents of France, Poland, and Ukraine, traveled together to Kyiv for a more than nine-hour meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This visit followed a dismissive response from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov to calls for an extended ceasefire, asserting that such measures could only be considered if Western military support for Ukraine ceased.
Direct engagement with Trump
French President Emmanuel Macron firmly rejected Russia’s insistence on conditional terms, stating, “anything that disturbs the process by imposing conditions is, in a way, a delaying tactic to avoid peace.” During a three-hour discussion at Mariinsky Palace, Macron took the initiative to call Trump, informing him of the meeting’s outcomes.
Trump, who answered the call before 7 a.m. in Washington, agreed to back the European leaders’ demands, according to officials familiar with the conversation. Macron later shared that the proposed ceasefire would be primarily overseen by the United States, with contributions from all European nations, stating it would “enable the immediate launch” of negotiations concerning territorial issues, energy security, and guarantees for a lasting peace.
International coalition and sanctions threat
During a press conference in Kyiv, Chancellor Merz expressed gratitude for Trump’s support, highlighting that the U.S. government is committed to monitoring the ceasefire. Two European officials praised the meeting’s outcome as a significant success, particularly for involving Trump, though one cautioned about his tendency to change his views.
Much now hinges on Putin’s response to these Western demands. Intelligence reports from Kyiv indicate concerns that Russia may initiate new airstrikes on the Ukrainian capital, a potential move that would undermine the peace efforts. A German government official noted that Merz and his counterparts have tasked their foreign policy advisers to prepare for a comprehensive peace agreement should Russia comply with the call for an unconditional ceasefire.
Moreover, leaders from various countries, including Canada, Turkey, and New Zealand, participated in the meeting via videoconference, uniting in their efforts to apply pressure on Putin. Merz stated, “A large Coalition of the Willing around the world is determined to enforce” new sanctions against Russia if it refuses the ceasefire, with Zelenskyy indicating that such sanctions would target the Russian energy sector and banking system.
When questioned about the potential provision of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, a contentious issue for the previous Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Merz refrained from commenting, stating, “Which measures we are taking together to end this war [are] not primarily the subject of public debate.”
In an effort to maintain a level of strategic ambiguity about military support, the German government announced that it would cease publicizing specific details about the types of military aid provided to Ukraine. This approach, which Merz’s team described as “strategic ambiguity,” aims to prevent Putin from having precise knowledge of weapon supplies and to avoid domestic political disputes that could weaken support for Ukraine.
Allies are also committed to increasing financial and logistical support to Kyiv, ensuring that Ukraine is better equipped with weapons, including tanks, drones, ammunition, and long-range missiles. The participation of Merz in the Kyiv meeting is seen as crucial, given that Germany’s financial resources play a significant role in funding Ukrainian arms production.