UNIPA News(London) 08 June-British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have expressed support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal for direct talks between Ukraine and Russia aimed at securing a ceasefire and advancing peace negotiations.
The commitment was outlined in a joint statement issued after a meeting between the four leaders at 10 Downing Street in London on Sunday, as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues into its fifth year.
According to the statement, the leaders endorsed “direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, with active US and European participation,” as a pathway to achieving a ceasefire and facilitating further negotiations. They also stated that the current line of contact should serve as the starting point for negotiations and stressed that international borders must not be altered by force.
The development follows Zelenskyy’s proposal for a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, presented in an open letter on Thursday. Putin rejected the suggestion, saying there was “no point” in holding such a meeting before a potential peace agreement had been reached.
The four leaders also highlighted the need to accelerate the production of interceptor missiles and jointly develop anti-ballistic missile systems and long-range strike capabilities to strengthen Ukraine’s defence.
In their statement, they condemned Russia’s large-scale missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, including the repeated use of Oreshnik missiles, and cited the continuing civilian casualties caused by the strikes.
Ukraine has repeatedly appealed to its Western allies for additional air defence ammunition as Russian attacks continue on a daily basis. Zelenskyy is also seeking greater international pressure on Moscow to bring an end to the conflict.
The United Kingdom, France and Germany, collectively known as the E3, have remained among Ukraine’s strongest supporters since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Britain and France are also leading the “coalition of the willing” initiative, which aims to provide security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a future peace settlement.
