Major European powers threw their weight behind an unconditional 30-day Ukraine ceasefire on Saturday, with the backing of US president Donald Trump, and threatened Russian president Vladimir Putin with “massive” new sanctions if he did not accept within days.
The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine set the start of the ceasefire for May 12th at a meeting in Kyiv, during which they held a phone call with Mr Trump.
“So all of us here together with the US are calling Putin out. If he is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it,” British prime minister Keir Starmer told a press conference.
“No more ifs and buts, no more conditions and delays.”
‘Never again war’: Pope Leo interrupts St Peter’s Square revelry with pleas for peace in Ukraine and Gaza
Want to understand what money does to your brain? Look at this photo
Bodies gaunt, eyes hollow, heads shaved, Ukrainian POWs return home
Zelenskiy challenges Putin to meet in person for peace talks on Thursday
Soon after the European leaders’ announcement, the Kremlin appeared to pour scorn on it.
“We hear many contradictory statements from Europe. They are generally confrontational in nature rather than aimed at trying to revive our relations. Nothing more,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Interfax.
Western sanctions against Russia have been toughened repeatedly since its full-scale invasion in 2022, without ending the war. But following through on the threat would be a sign of growing western unity after months of unpredictability in US policy since Mr Trump’s return to the White House in January.
After engaging directly with Russian officials, clashing publicly with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy and briefly cutting vital military aid to Kyiv, Washington has patched up ties with Kyiv and signed an arduously-negotiated mineral resources deal.
[ ‘Just say thank you’: How Trump-Zelenskiy meeting descended into slanging matchOpens in new window ]
Mr Trump, who did not immediately comment publicly on the European leaders’ remarks, has also signalled frustration with what Washington views as Mr Putin’s foot-dragging over a ceasefire.
“In the event that the ceasefire is violated, massive sanctions will be prepared, in co-ordination between the Europeans and the United States,” French president Emmanuel Macron said.
By imposing new sanctions, the White House would be aligning itself more closely with western Europe, which has been rattled by a trade war in which Mr Trump has imposed tariffs on them and other countries, and has suggested he might not come to the defence of Nato allies that underspend on their defence.
Mr Zelenskiy said he and the visiting leaders had agreed the unconditional ceasefire must start on Monday and cover air, sea and land. If Russia refused, it would face new sanctions, including the strengthening of punitive measures targeting its energy and banking sectors, he said.
Kremlin spokesman Mr Peskov had been quoted as saying on Friday that Russia supported the implementation of a 30-day ceasefire, but only with due consideration of “nuances”.
In remarks to US broadcaster ABC’s broadcast earlier on Saturday, Mr Peskov had suggested western military assistance for Ukraine must stop for a temporary ceasefire to take effect. “Otherwise it will be an advantage for Ukraine,” he said.
[ Europe marks 80 years since VE day as Continent faces new security realitiesOpens in new window ]
Mr Macron said that if the ceasefire went ahead, it would be monitored mainly by the US, and European countries would contribute.
Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who is now a senior security official, derided the idea of giving Russia an option between being sanctioned or giving Ukrainian forces an opportunity to rebuild.
“Shove these peace plans up your pangender arses!” he wrote on X.
The European leaders said the terms of a peace deal would be negotiated during the 30-day pause in fighting.
“We have no illusions that the ceasefire will be breached,” Mr Zelenskiy said.
On the eve of the summit, the US embassy in Kyiv warned of a “potentially significant” air attack in the coming days.
When the European leaders arrived in Kyiv by train on Saturday, a screen on the platform announced the arrival of the “Bravery Express”. Mr Zelenskiy accompanied them as they paid their respects at a Kyiv memorial honouring Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war.
The visit falls on the final day of a May 8th-10th ceasefire declared by Mr Putin that Ukraine did not accept, denouncing it as a sham. Both sides have accused each other of violating it.
Reuters journalists at a field hospital near the front line in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region saw soldiers being brought in with combat injuries sustained since the Russian ceasefire began.
“There hasn’t been any ceasefire, shelling has continued just as before, drones are flying just like before, the same with explosives being dropped. Nothing has changed at all,” said a wounded soldier who gave his name as Stanislav. – Reuters
