Ukraine and its allies say ready for 30-day ceasefire starting Monday

Calls for ceasefire from US, France, UK, Poland and new German Chancellor Merz

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz walk along a makeshift memorial for fallen Ukrainian defenders, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, at the Independence Square in Kyiv. Reuters

Mr Zelenskyy, Mr Macron and Mr Merz lay candles. Reuters

From left, Mr Zelenskyy, Mr Tusk, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Mr Macron, Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska, and Mr Merz. AFP

Left to right, Mr Tusk, Mr Starmer, Ms Zelenska, Mr Zelensky, Mr Macron, and Mr Merz at Independence Square in Kyiv. EPA

From left, Mr Tusk, Ms Zelenska, Mr Starmer, Mr Macron, Mr Zelenskyy and Mr Merz. AFP

Mr Zelenskiy greets Mr Tusk in Kyiv. Reuters

Mr Macron, centre, Mr Starmer, left, and Mr Merz. EPA

Mr Starmer, left with Mr Macron, centre, and Mr Merz onboard a train to Kyiv. Getty Images

Ukraine and its allies are ready for a “full, unconditional ceasefire” with Russia for at least 30 days starting on Monday, Ukrainian FM Andrii Sybiha said on Saturday.

His remarks came as the leaders of four major European countries travelled to Kyiv with a co-ordinated call for a one-month ceasefire that would allow space for negotiations to end the three-year Ukraine-Russia conflict.

France's President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid the visit to demonstrate their commitment to Ukraine.

The four leaders met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and then they all had "a fruitful call" with US President Donald Trump focused on peace efforts, Sybiha said in a post on X.

"If Russia agrees and effective monitoring is ensured, a durable ceasefire and confidence-building measures can pave the way to peace negotiations," he added.

It is the first time the leaders of the four countries travelled together to Ukraine as Chancellor Merz made his first visit to Ukraine as Germany’s leader. The trip coincided with Mr Trump's call for Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire to allow for peace talks.

He called for "a 30-day unconditional ceasefire" on his Truth Social network after speaking to Mr Zelenskyy.

Mr Trump said that "both countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations" to halt the conflict, which started when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

The northern European Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) summit on Friday was dominated by Ukraine, which has been invited into "an enhanced partnership" with the grouping.

In Kyiv, the leaders heard from Mr Zelenskyy with an update on plans to create a military comprising air, land, maritime and regeneration forces.

"We reiterate our backing for President Trump’s calls for a peace deal and call on Russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace," the joint statement said. "Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.

"We are clear the bloodshed must end, Russia must stop its illegal invasion, and Ukraine must be able to prosper as a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders for generations to come.

"We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia's war machine."

Alexander Stubb, Finland's President, said he saw an opportunity to create a Ukrainian advantage over its adversary. Russia was "militarily and economically in a much worse position than perhaps we sometimes read in the public eye“, he said.

"Russia cannot sustain the situation, so let's maximise the pressure. I feel carefully optimistic that at this particular moment in time, we're moving in the right direction, both militarily on the ground, as Zelenskyy has pointed out, and also in terms of the ceasefire and the peace process."

During the joint visit, the leaders were expected to pay their respects to the fallen defenders and casualties of Russia’s war in Maidan, where flags are placed by Ukrainians to remember the dead.

Efforts to regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces after any peace deal are now dominating the European agenda.

Speaking at the London Defence Summit, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's ambassador to the UK and a former commander of its forces, predicted a time when Europe would depend on his country's military to safeguard the continent from emerging threats.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the then Armed Forces of Ukraine Commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi in 2023. Getty Images

"We are extremely grateful to you, our partners, because without your help, with money and weapons, [and] without political and moral support, I would not to be here today," he said. "Western assistance helped us not to fall and to survive.

"But today in the year 2025 such support is probably not enough, despite the fact it is still very important. [The] war continues to escalate every day.

"If Nato starts adopting technology to be able to reach the level of innovation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine it can reach our level of 2024 in about five years.”