The leaders of the UK, France and Germany have endorsed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal for direct ceasefire talks with Russia, calling for active participation from the US and European partners. They said negotiations should begin from the current line of contact and stressed that international borders must not be changed by force. The joint statement also urged a rapid scale-up of interceptor production and joint development of anti-ballistic and deep-strike capabilities while condemning Russia’s missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.
UK, France and Germany Back Direct Russia–Ukraine Ceasefire Talks — Urge Active US and EU Role
UK, France and Germany back direct talks with Russia 'with active US and European participation'
The leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Germany have publicly supported Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for direct ceasefire negotiations with Russia, according to a joint statement issued after defence talks in London.
Zelenskyy met at 10 Downing Street with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as the conflict enters its fifth year. The leaders said they back a direct dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow “with active US and European participation, to bring about a ceasefire and support further negotiations.”
“The current line of contact should be the starting point for negotiations,” the statement said, adding that “international borders must not be changed by force.”
Zelenskyy had proposed a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an open letter. President Putin dismissed the idea, saying he saw “no point” in meeting Zelenskyy until a possible peace deal had been negotiated.
The three European leaders also highlighted the urgent need to accelerate production of interceptors and to co-develop anti-ballistic missile systems and deep-strike capabilities to bolster Ukraine’s defence. They condemned what they described as Russia’s “large-scale missile and drone attacks — including the repeated use of the Oreshnik missiles — on Ukrainian cities, with a tragic toll on civilians.”
Kyiv has repeatedly urged Western partners for additional ammunition and supplies to strengthen its air defences as it endures daily strikes. Zelenskyy is pressing allies to step up measures that would increase pressure on Moscow and create conditions for a negotiated end to the fighting.
The United Kingdom, France and Germany — often referred to as the E3 — have been leading backers of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The UK and France are co-leads of the so-called “coalition of the willing,” an initiative aimed at providing security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a future peace process.
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