European leaders escalate pressure against Russia

The French leader, Emmanuel Macron, British leader, Keir Starmer, German leader, Friedrich Merz, and Polish leader, Andrzej Duda, arrived by train in Kyiv on Friday morning to meet with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

With this symbolic move, they want to send a message to the Kremlin to declare the 30-day truce requested by the Ukrainians, Europeans, and Americans.

France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland are part of the "coalition of the willing", a coalition of countries working towards the eventual creation of a peacekeeping military contingent that would be deployed in Ukraine at the end of this war to deter Russia from launching another invasion in the future.

"A just and lasting peace begins with a complete and unconditional ceasefire," Emmanuel Macron wrote on X upon his arrival in the Ukrainian capital.

"This is the proposal we made with the United States." added Mr. Macron, who recalled that Ukraine had agreed to lay down arms for a month on 11 March and accused Russia of "dithering" by imposing conditions to "buy time" and continue the war.

Macron added that "if Moscow persists with its blockade", the pressure on Russia will be increased by the Europeans "in close coordination" with the United States.

(MH with MaSi - Source: X - Photo: © DPA - Kay Nietfeld)