Four European Leaders Visit Kyiv Amid Ceasefire Tensions with Russia
Four key allies of Ukraine arrived in Kyiv by train for a high-level meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, spending more than nine hours in the Ukrainian capital. Their joint visit comes at a tense moment, just after Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed international calls for an extended ceasefire, arguing that such a move is impossible unless the West halts its military support for Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron pushed back strongly against Moscow’s stance, 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 the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, Macron took a surprising step by calling former U.S. President Donald Trump to brief him, alongside the other European leaders, on the ongoing talks.
Despite the early hour in Washington—before 7 a.m.—Trump answered the call and, according to two officials familiar with the exchange, expressed his willingness to support the European plan.
At a press briefing later, Macron revealed that the proposed ceasefire would be overseen primarily by the United States, with contributions from all European partners. He said this approach would pave the way for immediate negotiations on a range of critical issues, including territorial disputes, the security of key energy infrastructure, and long-term security guarantees.
Macron emphasized that this diplomatic push is aimed at laying the foundation for “a robust and lasting peace.”
Leave a Reply