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Polish PM joins European leaders on solidarity visit to Kyiv

10.05.2025 10:15
The leaders of Poland, Britain, France and Germany arrived in Kyiv on Saturday morning for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a show of unity a day after a Victory Day parade on Red Square.
(L to R) Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Frances President Emmanuel Macron, Ukraines First Lady Olena Zelenska, and Germanys Chancellor Friedrich Merz pay their respects to the victims of war at the Memorial for the Fallen at the Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukra
(L to R) Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska, and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz pay their respects to the victims of war at the Memorial for the Fallen at the Independence Square in Kyiv, UkraPhoto: LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL MAXPPP OUT/ PAP/EPA.

The visit by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz  is the first time the leaders of the four countries have travelled together to Ukraine.

They arrived by train from neighbouring Poland after meeting in the southeastern border city of Rzeszów on Friday evening.

More than three years into Russia's invasion, the hugely symbolic show of European unity comes a day after President Vladimir Putin struck a defiant tone at a Moscow parade marking 80 years since victory in World War II.

The summit will discuss a U.S. and European proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the Russian war in Ukraine that if refused by Moscow would see them jointly impose new sanctions, a  diplomatic source told the Reuters news agency.

"Alongside the U.S., we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace," the four leaders said in a joint statement.

The visit comes at an unpredictable diplomatic moment in Russia's more than three-year-long war against Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for a rapid peace after tearing up the policies of his predecessor since entering the White House in January.

After meeting Zelensky in the morning, the leaders are to host a virtual session to update their European counterparts on moves to create a European force that could provide Ukraine with security after the war.


(mo)

Source: PAP, Reuters, AFP