In a significant diplomatic move, the leaders of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Poland will make a joint visit to Kyiv this Saturday—marking the first such unified appearance in Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion more than three years ago.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk are set to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit is widely seen as a powerful symbol of European solidarity with Ukraine at a critical moment in the ongoing conflict.
The high-profile trip comes just one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations, using the occasion to double down on his uncompromising stance on Ukraine.
In a joint statement, the four European leaders called for an immediate 30-day ceasefire, aligning with a similar proposal made earlier by U.S. President Donald Trump. The statement warned that failure by Russia to comply would lead to a further escalation in international support for Ukraine.
So far, the Kremlin has not responded to the ceasefire proposal. Trump, while advocating for a negotiated solution, has suggested Ukraine may need to consider territorial concessions—though he also criticized Russia for continuing the war despite diplomatic overtures.
Meanwhile, internal rifts within Europe have surfaced. Slovakia’s prime minister drew criticism after attending the Victory Day parade in Moscow, and relations between Ukraine and Hungary have deteriorated following the mutual expulsion of diplomats amid espionage allegations.
