Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to visit Ukraine this weekend alongside other world leaders in an effort to pressure Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire in the ongoing war. Joining Sir Keir on the trip are President Emmanuel Macron of France, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is making his first visit to Ukraine since assuming office.
This marks Sir Keir’s second visit to Ukraine while serving as prime minister. The leaders will be advocating for Russia to agree to a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, a proposal that was originally put forward by US President Donald Trump. The decision for the leaders to travel to Kyiv together is a deliberate symbolic response to the over 20 leaders who gathered in Moscow for Russia’s Victory Day commemorations led by President Vladimir Putin.
During their visit, the leaders will engage in discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and participate in a virtual meeting of the “coalition of the willing,” which consists of approximately 30 mainly European nations seeking to bolster Ukraine’s security if a peace deal with Russia is reached. They will also pay tribute to Ukrainian soldiers who have lost their lives since Russia’s full-scale invasion over three years ago.
In a joint statement released prior to their arrival, the leaders affirmed their support for Ukraine against Russia’s “barbaric and illegal full-scale invasion.” They echoed President Trump’s call for a peace deal and urged Russia to cease blocking efforts to achieve a lasting peace. The leaders emphasized the importance of ending the bloodshed, halting Russia’s invasion, and ensuring Ukraine’s prosperity as a secure and sovereign nation within its recognized borders. They vowed to escalate pressure on Russia’s military until a sustained ceasefire is agreed upon
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