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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, flanked by European allies in Ukraine’s capital, declared a renewed show of unity on Saturday as world leaders demanded an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The emergency summit, dubbed the “coalition of the willing,” brought together Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk for high-stakes talks in central Kyiv. It marked the first visit to Ukraine by Chancellor Merz since assuming office earlier this week and Macron’s first return since summer 2022.
“This meeting, hosted here in Kyiv, is deeply symbolic,” said Starmer during a joint press conference. “It shows the strength of our unity. We are gathered here during the week we marked 80 years since VE Day, the end of the Second World War, a war fought for freedom, democracy, and sovereignty. These are the same values we defend today.”
The leaders announced an agreement for an unconditional ceasefire beginning May 12, with backing from U.S. President Donald Trump, who joined the group via a speakerphone call during the summit. The call was described as “fruitful” by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who shared a photo of the five leaders gathered around a phone on X (formerly Twitter).
“All of us here, together with the US, are calling Putin out,” Starmer declared. “If he’s serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it now. If not, we will respond, ramping up sanctions and increasing military aid alongside President Trump and our partners.”
The proposed ceasefire, which would cover land, air, and sea operations, aims to pause hostilities for 30 days as a potential gateway to full peace negotiations. Ukraine and its allies have agreed to the terms, but Russia has not.
The Kremlin has so far rejected the offer, insisting that any ceasefire must be contingent upon a halt to all Western arms supplies to Ukraine, a condition deemed unacceptable by the coalition leaders.
Early signs of Russian resistance emerged online, with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev mocking the summit. In a post on X, he derided the Western leaders, writing: “Macron, Merz, Starmer, and Tusk were supposed to discuss peace in Kiev. Instead, they are blurting out threats against Russia … You think that’s smart, eh? Shove these peace plans up your pangender arses.”
The blunt language underscored the skepticism in Moscow, raising doubts over whether the ceasefire proposal would hold. Still, the coalition maintained its position: ceasefire or consequences.
“We’re not accepting Putin’s conditions,” said Starmer. “We are offering a real path to peace. If that is rejected, the international community will respond accordingly.”
While some analysts see the ceasefire push as a long shot, others view it as a strategic pivot, combining diplomacy with credible threats of economic and military escalation. Trump’s backing lends additional pressure, adding a transatlantic dimension to the initiative.
For now, all eyes are on Moscow and whether it will blink.
