Ukraine-Russia war latest: Macron calls for direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv as Europe steps up ceasefire push

Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Tusk and Friedrich Merz are in Kyiv for a meeting with the Ukrainian president.

The meeting, which is bringing together a ‘coalition of the willing’, will consider the terms of a peace deal between Ukraine and Moscow and how to implement a temporary ceasefire.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has said that the “ball is now in Russia’s court” to agree on a 30-day ceasefire in the Ukraine war.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Ms von der Leyen said: “We support the proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire. It must be implemented without preconditions to pave the way for meaningful peace negotiations.

“The ball is now in Russia’s court. We stand ready to maintain strong pressure on Russia and impose further biting sanctions in the event of a breach of a ceasefire.

“Our objective is clear: a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, which is vital for security and stability across our continent”.

Echoing French president Emmanuel Macron’s position, German chancellor Friedrich Merz has threatened Moscow with a “massive tightening of sanctions”, which would happen on a “financial and military level” if Russia does not accept a 30-day ceasefire.

Speaking to the German newspaper Bild, Mr Merz said: “We are in agreement with the American government, with Donald Trump. We are asking for a 30-day ceasefire so that peace negotiations can be prepared during this period.

“The ball is now in Putin’s court. Putin must respond to this offer.”

Mr Merz said that Mr Trump was “clearly losing patience with Putin”.

The UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has said that Russia must agree to “a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace in Ukraine”.

Sir Keir posted a statement on X, formerly Twitter, after arriving in Kyiv alongside the leaders of France, Poland and Germany.

He added: “Every step we take towards that is another step towards security and prosperity in the UK”.

Watch the moment UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Kyiv alongside the leaders of France, Germany, and Poland—the first time leaders from all four nations have travelled to Ukraine together. Their historic visit marks a unified call for peace as the war continues.

It also marks Chancellor Merz’s first trip to Ukraine since taking office.

French president Emmanuel Macron told French broadcaster TFI on Saturday morning that he stands ready to impose more sanctions on Russia if don’t agree to a ceasefire.

Speaking on the train that took him to Kyiv, Mr Macron explained that the first objective of European leaders’ meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was “to have this peace, even if precarious, even if temporary for 30 days, which will allow us to start discussions to build a lasting, robust peace, one which will provide security guarantees that prevent Russia from going any further”.

He added: “The decision we must make collectively is to say: If Russia does not commit to these 30 days of ceasefire and to these discussions, we must be able to impose additional sanctions that are much harsher on the Russian economy and in some way dissuasive”.

French president Emmanuel Macron has said Ukraine and Russia need to start direct talks about a ceasefire and European leaders will facilitate that.

Speaking to French media on Saturday morning ahead of his visit to Kyiv, Mr Macron said: “I am convinced that we will succeed in starting discussions. Will we have a clear ceasefire? I’m afraid we will never have any great clarity”. But Mr Macron added that the objective of the meeting was to “demonstrate the unity of Ukraine, Europe and the United States”.

He proposed: “If we all commit to saying ‘this 30-day people is what you’ve been telling the world for months, we’ll do it, we’ll engage in direct Ukraine-Russia talks, we’re ready to help, and if you don’t respect the ceasefire, there will be additional sanctions’, I think we can achieve results”.

Presiding over the pomp and circumstance of Russia’s Victory Day Parade, Vladimir Putin tried to show off to the world.

Watching his troops march around Moscow’s Red Square, a shadow of former miltary displays in recent years, he referred to the “special military operation” taking place in Ukraine – a brutal three year war that continues to grind on.

This bloody conflict is, however, so much more than that. The Russian president is – according to the former head of MI6 – intent on taking much more than just Ukraine.

Far from being worried by recent mini-threats from Donald Trump to increase sanctions or stung by the US president’s irritation at Russia’s stalling over a ceasefire, Putin is cupping his ears in a pantomime of attention and carrying on doing as he pleases.

Such behaviour chimes with the uncharacteristically stark message from ex-spy chief Sir Alex Younger who, after a lifetime in the shadows of espionage, has a simple message: “If you don’t stand up to him, he comes back for more – how many more times do we need to be told this?”

This is an extract of analysis from world affairs editor Sam Kiley, read more here:

Keir Starmer is about to take part in a press conference in Kyiv urging the Russians to agree a 30 day ceasefire in Ukraine, writes Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin.

Once again it will see the PM on the same side as President Trump in what has been an extraordinary few days of diplomacy for the PM. It will be seen as a vindication of his stance to try to act as a ‘bridge’ between the US and Ukraine, after that disastrous White House showdown between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky.

Support for Ukraine is the “absolute focus” of Britain and its northern European allies, Sir Keir Starmer said on Friday as he attended a military summit in Norway that coincided with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations.

The prime minister met counterparts at a Joint Expeditionary Forces (JEF) leaders’ gathering in Oslo on Friday, during which Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke virtually.

Following the summit, Sir Keir said the UK-led group’s utmost priority was defending the values “hard-won” during the Second World War and continuing to stand behind Kyiv.

He is now in Ukraine for a meeting with Mr Zelensky as well as the leaders of France, Poland and Germany.