Macron, Merz and Starmer: European leaders in Kiev
The German Chancellor today threatened Moscow with “a massive tightening of sanctions” if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses the 30-day ceasefire in the conflict in Ukraine demanded by the Europeans and North Americans.
In an interview published in the German newspaper Bild, Friedrich Merz said that if the Kremlin does not respond, “there will be a massive tightening of sanctions and massive aid to Ukraine will continue. On the political level, of course, but also on the financial and military level.”
In addition to Merz, who is making his first visit to the country since taking office this week, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Kiev for a meeting with Ukrainian Head of State Volodymyr Zelensky, during which they will discuss possible security guarantees for Ukraine and support for a 30-day ceasefire.
European leaders, together with the Ukrainian President, went to Maidan Square in central Kiev, where they placed candles and observed a minute of silence at the memorial to soldiers killed since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In another interview, this time with the Russian state channel , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Europeans “are nervous” after the Victory Day military parade on May 9.
“Europeans are nervous about what happened in Moscow on May 9. Europeans are nervous about the big international consolidation around Victory Day,” Dmitry Peskov said.
For the spokesperson, the celebration of Victory Day showed the “great international consolidation” around the “pride of victory over fascism and the liberation of the world from fascism”.
Europeans are “frightened” by the “ideology shared by the countries that were represented in Red Square,” he added.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized Ukraine for “not being ready for negotiations.” In an interview with ABC News, the Russian presidential chief countered that Vladimir Putin “is doing everything possible to solve a problem, to reach an agreement through peaceful and diplomatic means.”
“But with no peaceful and diplomatic means available, we are forced to continue the military operation,” Dmitry Peskov lamented.
Regarding the 30-day ceasefire, the Kremlin spokesman imposed a red line: the West must stop sending weapons to Ukraine.
“Otherwise it will be an advantage for Ukraine. Ukraine will continue its full mobilization, bringing new troops to the front line. Ukraine will use this period to train new military personnel and give rest to the current ones,” the Kremlin spokesman explained, asking: “Why should we give this advantage to Ukraine?”
The spokesman stressed that Vladimir Putin “agreed to the ceasefire” and told Donald Trump so, but the Russian leader “asked several questions” and said that Russia had the initiative on the front line. “Russian troops are advancing and advancing confidently.”
In the same interview, Dmitry Peskov said he hoped that President Donald Trump's mediation "will help bring some flexibility, political will and prudence to the Kiev regime."
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, today received in the Ukrainian capital the leaders of the largest European countries: the French head of state, Emmanuel Macron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, the head of the Polish executive, Donald Tusk, and also the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz.
This is the first time that Friedrich Merz has visited Ukraine as chancellor. The German leader took office on Tuesday and his visit to Kiev shows the new German government's support for Ukraine.
The leaders have already met in Kiev, paid tribute to Ukrainian soldiers killed in combat and are expected to speak to the press at a press conference.
This visit is an initiative of the “coalition of goodwill”, an alliance that brings together several European countries (and others) to support Ukraine in peace negotiations with Russia. In fact, the visit of the European leaders serves to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept a 30-day ceasefire.
The European leaders' visit comes a day after around 20 foreign leaders were in Moscow to watch the military parade in Red Square.
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