The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Mariyinsky Palace, the official residence of the Ukrainian president. They are expected to speak to the media later.
European leaders paid tribute to war victims in Kiev’s Independence Square.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz paid tribute to war victims at the War Memorial in Kiev’s Independence Square.
In a joint statement, the leaders said they were ready to support peace talks.
While Ukraine’s European allies meet in Kiev, Russia has hosted leaders from around the world this week for Victory Day celebrations.
Russia said 27 world leaders attended yesterday’s parade in Red Square, but the presence of China’s Xi Jinping was particularly notable.
Putin and Xi held two rounds of talks before the parade, as well as an informal discussion on the war in Ukraine. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić also attended the event. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was the only leader of an EU member state to travel to Moscow.
Emmanuel Macron said his first thought was with the Ukrainians. In a post on X, the French president praised Ukrainians for fighting not only for their country, but also for Europe.
“In the face of Russian aggression, our response must be collective,” he said.
He also shared three key messages.
“First, peace – a just and lasting peace starts with a complete and unconditional ceasefire. Second, the peace agreement being built must guarantee its security. Finally, the future – a free, strong, prosperous and European Ukraine: that is our vision,” he stressed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky greeted Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Kiev.
“Kiev. We have an important day ahead of us,” Tusk said in a post on the X network.
Today is the last day of a three-day ceasefire that Russia has declared itself and is due to end tonight at midnight Moscow time.
The US embassy in Kiev is warning of the risk of significant air strikes in the coming days. Although there has been a pause in the night-time bombing of Ukrainian cities by Russian drones and missiles, fighting on the front lines has not stopped.
Britain, France, Germany and Poland are urging Russia to agree to a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is first demanding that Western countries stop arming Ukraine, which would leave the country vulnerable to further Russian advances.
In a joint statement released before the arrival, European leaders Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk said they would “stand in Kiev in solidarity with Ukraine”.
The statement added that they would call for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, first proposed by US President Donald Trump, to allow for negotiations for a lasting peace.
The leaders said they were ready to support peace talks as soon as possible, discuss the technical implementation of the ceasefire and prepare for a full peace agreement. Later in the day, they plan to hold a virtual meeting with other leaders.
They will provide an update on progress towards what is called an “international security force”, which No 10 says could “regenerate” Ukraine’s armed forces after a possible peace deal.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Kiev, along with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The three leaders arrived by train from Poland after meeting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Tusk is expected to join them in Kiev later today. The leaders are using the visit to call on Russia to “agree to a complete and unconditional 30-day ceasefire” – a proposal initially made by US President Donald Trump, the BBC reports.
