German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Presses Moscow for 30-day Ceasefire in Ukraine: "The Ball is in Russia's Court"
- Associated Press, KYIV
Leading Personalities from Europe Arrive in Kyiv
Last night, leaders from the UK, France, Germany, and Poland descended upon Kyiv for a show of unity, aiming to dialogue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. This summit comes on the heels of Russian President Vladimir Putin's Victory Day parade in Moscow, just one day prior.
The purpose of this meeting is to address a U.S. and European proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine. According to a French diplomatic source, the joining of forces would result in new sanctions if Moscow shows reluctance towards this proposal — though it has yet to be finalized.
This is the first time these four leaders have embarked upon a joint visit to Ukraine. In a unified statement, they urged Russia to agree upon a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire to pave the way for peace talks aimed at achieving a lasting peace.
The aftermath of this three-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine comes during an unpredictable moment in diplomacy. U.S. President Donald Trump has been actively pursuing a rapid peace since entering office in January, engaging in direct talks with Russian officials, publicly clashing with Zelenskiy, and temporarily halting vital military aid to Ukraine. However, tensions between the U.S. and Russia have recently eased following the Trump administration's patch-up with Kyiv and the signing of an arduously-negotiated mineral resources deal.
Trump has displayed signs of frustration with Putin's stance on the ceasefire and Russia's reassertion of settlement demands. He has threatened to step up sanctions against Russia, but also hinted at abandoning the peace effort without progress. Yesterday, Trump called for a 30-day ceasefire, to which Zelenskiy swiftly responded positively, ready to implement it immediately.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that while Russia supports the idea of a 30-day ceasefire in the conflict, such an agreement would depend on "nuances."
Before the summit, the U.S. embassy in Kyiv issued a warning of a "potentially significant" air attack in the near future and advised citizens to prepare for shelter during air raid sirens.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us, many topics to discuss. Our mission is to bring this war to an end with a just peace, we must force Moscow to agree to a ceasefire," stated Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy's chief of staff.
Upon their arrival, the leaders held talks with Zelenskiy and visited a memorial commemorating Ukrainian soldiers killed in battle. They are also scheduled to meet with other leaders to discuss the establishment and enhancement of an international coalition consisting of air, land, maritime, and "regeneration" forces, aiming to rejuvenate Ukraine's military after any peace agreement.
Interestingly, the proposed 30-day ceasefire declared by Putin for Thursday and Friday was rejected by Ukraine, which denounced it as a sham. Both parties have accused one another of breaching the temporary truce.
During a phone call with Trump on Thursday, Zelenskiy emphasized that a 30-day ceasefire would be "a real indicator" of progress towards peace with Russia, and expressed Ukraine's readiness to implement it promptly if approved. The French diplomatic source reported that while the proposal for the 30-day unconditional ceasefire has yet to be finalized, there appears to be a growing convergence of opinions among U.S. and European allies.
Friedrich Merz, who became Germany's chancellor this week, noted that the decision regarding a potential 30-day ceasefire now lies within Moscow's hands, stating, "It is exclusively in Russia's hands whether there is a chance, starting this coming weekend – that is, the beginning of next week – to enable a longer ceasefire in Ukraine."
[1] RTE (2025, May 10). Tensions Escalate as Ukraine and Russian Forces Breach Ceasefire. Retrieved May 10, 2025, from https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2025/0510/1227925-ukraine-russia-ceasefire/
[2] Reuters (2025, May 10). Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Russia's Position Regarding the Ceasefire in Ukraine. Retrieved May 10, 2025, from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-spokesman-dmitry-peskov-russias-position-regarding-ceasefire-ukraine-2025-0510/
- The four leaders' joint visit to Kyiv aims to dialogue with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy about a 30-day ceasefire proposal in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. (ceasefire, Kyiv, leaders, Ukraine, Russia, dialogue)
- Friedrich Merz, the new German Chancellor, stated that the decision for a potential 30-day ceasefire depends on Moscow's hand. (30-day ceasefire, Friedrich Merz, Chancellor, Moscow)
- Sanctions may be imposed if Russia shows reluctance towards the proposed 30-day ceasefire. (sanctions, 30-day ceasefire, Russia)
- Starmer, the UK Labour leader, has expressed support for Ukraine in the war-and-conflicts section of general-news, though no specific mention of a ceasefire has been reported. (starmer, UK Labour leader, war-and-conflicts, general-news)
