Agency Report –
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk were in Kiev on Saturday to reaffirm support for Ukraine and press for a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia.
The visit aimed to showcase European unity in the face of Moscow’s ongoing aggression. It also marked Merz’s first trip to Ukraine since becoming chancellor earlier this week.
In a statement issued ahead of talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the leaders called on Russia to accept a “full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace,” echoing a proposal initially floated by US President Donald Trump.
The leaders pledged to continue to “ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine” until it agrees to a lasting ceasefire.
The delegation’s visit coincides with renewed European diplomatic efforts by a broader 30-nation group led by France and the UK called the “coalition of the willing,” which has been meeting to prepare for potential post-ceasefire support for Ukraine.
During their stay in Kiev, the leaders took part with Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska in a memorial ceremony to victims of the war, placing lanterns and observing a minute of silence at a makeshift shrine on Kiev’s Maidan square.
The improvised memorial, which was erected by members of the public in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has since grown to include tens of thousands of flags, photos and other mementos.
Ukraine counts on new German arms supplies
Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Oleksii Makeiev said he expects Merz to commit to new arms deliveries during the visit, although no official announcement has yet been made.
According to government sources in Berlin, the new conservative-led German government plans to keep the details of future weapons shipments largely confidential to avoid giving Russia a strategic edge, according to informed circles.
The main aim is to “deny military advantages to the aggressor in the Ukraine war,” a government source told dpa on Friday evening.
Makeiev expressed confidence that German-Ukrainian relations were entering a new phase, stating: “I sense that the German-Ukrainian partnership with the federal government, the new federal government, will be raised to a whole new level.”
He reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness to enter ceasefire talks “from a position of strength,” unlike Russia, which he accused of using negotiations as a stalling tactic.
Kremlin demands end to military aid before ceasefire
Meanwhile, the Kremlin pushed back on the ceasefire proposal, saying it would only consider a pause in fighting if the US and Europe halt arms deliveries to Ukraine.
“Otherwise, it will be an advantage for Ukraine,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told US broadcaster ABC, claiming Kiev would use the pause to regroup, retrain, and rotate troops.
Peskov said Russia currently holds the upper hand on the battlefield and dismissed suggestions that Ukraine is ready for genuine negotiations, accusing Kiev of trying to avoid talks.
“Why should we grant such an advantage to Ukraine?” he asked.
He welcomed what he called Trump’s influence on the process, suggesting it could help pressure Ukraine toward a deal.
While Russia has declared short-term ceasefires for recent holidays, including Easter and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, both sides have accused each other of violating a temporary truce which was set to expire Saturday night.
The war in Ukraine, now in its third year, has claimed more than 43,000 Ukrainian military lives according to official figures, with some estimates placing the toll far higher. The United Nations has recorded over 13,000 civilian deaths since the invasion began.
By Michael Fischer
