The leaders of Britain, Germany and France have backed a proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Europe is ready to support efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire and ending the war.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed their support in a joint statement issued after meeting Zelenskiy in London on Sunday.
The three leaders, who head the E3 security alliance and are among Ukraine’s strongest international backers, welcomed Zelenskiy’s proposal for direct dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow with active participation from both Europe and the United States.
“Leaders commended President Zelenskiy’s call for an end to the war, negotiated by diplomatic means, as set out in his letter to the president,” the statement said.
Zelenskiy recently published an open letter to Putin proposing face-to-face talks aimed at ending the war, now in its fifth year. The Russian leader rejected the proposal, saying he saw no immediate reason for such a meeting and arguing that any settlement must provide a long-term solution.
In London, Zelenskiy also discussed Ukraine’s military needs with the European leaders, saying the country required additional air defence missiles following some of the largest Russian air attacks since the war began in 2022.
“Russia is not winning on the battlefield, and our mid-range strikes and deep strikes are significantly limiting its ability to expand its aggression. But it is also extremely important to have protection against ballistic threats, with which the Russians are terrorizing our cities and communities,” Zelenskiy said.
The four leaders agreed that any path to a “just and lasting peace” must begin with an immediate and complete ceasefire. They also said the current front line should form the basis for negotiations and that Ukraine should receive legally binding security guarantees, including the deployment of a multinational force.
They further stated that Russian assets should remain frozen until Moscow compensates Ukraine for damage caused by the war and stressed that Europe’s security interests must be protected in any future settlement.
Zelenskiy said the meeting focused on ways to revive diplomatic efforts and strengthen Europe’s role in any negotiations.
“For Ukraine, it has always been a priority that Europe’s position and voice in the negotiations be strong,” he said.
Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s support for Ukraine following the talks.
“Our support for Ukraine is ironclad,” Starmer wrote. “Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security.”
Putin, speaking last week, maintained his hardline position on the conflict but said proposals advanced by US President Donald Trump could help bring the fighting to an end if Ukraine was prepared to make compromises.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
