European leaders visit Kyiv, push for peace in Ukraine

Kyiv

Top European leaders visited Kyiv on Saturday, calling for peace and supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and future as a free nation. Leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland urged Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire with no conditions.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in paying respects to Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war.

Zelenskyy posted on X, honoring the fallen soldiers and thanking European leaders for their solidarity.

Starmer also shared a message, stressing the need for a ceasefire to make room for peace talks. He linked the effort to global security, including that of the UK.

Macron posted that Ukraine’s bravery deserves a strong collective response. He highlighted three goals: peace, sovereignty, and Ukraine’s European future. Macron said Ukraine had accepted a ceasefire offer on March 11, but Russia had not, choosing instead to delay and continue its attacks.

Donald Tusk also showed his support by posting a picture from Kyiv with the Polish and Ukrainian flags.

Meanwhile, the US and its allies, including those in Europe, have warned of new sanctions against Russia if it refuses the 30-day truce. US President Donald Trump has made ending the war a major goal. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, has met Russian President Vladimir Putin four times this year to push for peace.