Zelensky welcomes European leaders in Ukraine in effort to secure ceasefire
Meeting under way at Zelensky’s residencepublished at 08:34 British Summer Time
Image source, EPA
Here’s a photo of the leaders meeting at the Mariyinsky Palace, the official residence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
They are expected to speak to the press later, and we’ll bring you the key developments as soon as that happens.
Peskov says arms deliveries to Ukraine must stop before ceasefire can happenpublished at 08:19 British Summer Time
Image source, EPA
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov says Ukraine’s allies must stop sending weapons to Ukraine before any ceasefire can happen.
Speaking to ABC News, external, Peskov says if arms deliveries continue, it will be an “advantage” for Ukraine, as the country “will continue their total mobilisation” and bring more troops to the front line.
He also says Ukraine is “not ready for immediate negotiations,” while Putin is trying to “achieve a settlement through peaceful and diplomatic means”.
Leaders pay tribute to victims of war at Kyiv’s Independence Squarepublished at 08:03 British Summer Time
Image source, Reuters
Donald Tusk, Keir Starmer, Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska, Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Mertz gather at Kyiv’s Independence Square
We’re now seeing images of leaders from the UK, France, Germany and Poland alongside Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky.
They’ve been paying their respects to victims of the war at a memorial in Kyiv’s Independence Square.
Image source, EPA
In a joint statement, the leaders say they are “ready to support peace talks”
Putin welcomes China’s Xi Jinping at Victory Day celebrations – how the day unfoldedpublished at 07:49 British Summer Time
Three things we learned from Putin’s Red Square parade
While Ukraine’s European allies meet in Kyiv, Russia has this week been hosting leaders from around the world for the country’s Victory Day commemorations.
Russia said that 27 world leaders attended yesterday’s parade in Red Square, but it was the presence of China’s Xi Jinping that stood really stood out.
Russian state TV spoke of relations between the two countries as being at their highest-ever level, united against the “collective West”.
Putin and Xi held two rounds of talks before the parade as well as an informal chat on the war in Ukraine, Chinese reports said.
Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Serbian President Aleksander Vucic were also at the event.
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was the only leader of an EU member country to travel to Moscow.
Our response must be collective, Macron sayspublished at 07:35 British Summer Time
Image source, Reuters
“My first thought is with the Ukrainians,” says Emmanuel Macron as he arrives in Kyiv.
In a post on X, the French president praises Ukrainians for fighting not just for their country, but for Europe too.
He says: “Faced with Russian aggression, our response must be collective.” Which is why he is making this trip with Germany, Poland and the UK.
He also shares three key messages:
“First, peace,” he says, “a just and lasting peace begins with a complete and unconditional ceasefire”.
Second, “the peace agreement to be built must guarantee its security”.
“Finally, the future,” Macron adds, “a fee, strong, prosperous, and European Ukraine: that is our vision.”
“History is watching us,” he concludes.
Zelensky greets Donald Tusk in Kyivpublished at 07:22 British Summer Time
Breaking
Image source, AFP/Getty Images
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has arrived in Kyiv.
In a post on X, he says: “Kyiv. An important day awaits us.”
At Independence Square in Kyiv, he is greeted by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
No let-up in fighting on the frontline amid Russia’s self-declared ceasefirepublished at 07:13 British Summer Time
Frank Gardner
Security correspondent
Image source, EPA
In Ukraine’s Donetsk region, the war continues
Today is the last day of Russia’s self-declared three-day ceasefire which is due to end at midnight tonight, Moscow time.
The US embassy here in Kyiv is warning of the risk of significant air strikes in the days ahead.
But while there has been a pause in the near nightly bombardment of Ukrainian cities by Russian drones and missiles, there has been no let-up in fighting on the front line.
Britain, France, Germany and Poland are all urging Russia to agree to the US proposal of a 30-day ceasefire.
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov has said Russia first needs Western nations to stop arming Ukraine, something that would leave this embattled nation vulnerable to further Russian advances on its towns and villages.
The war continues.
‘We are ready to support peace talks as soon as possible’ – leaders say in joint statementpublished at 07:04 British Summer Time
Image source, Reuters
In a joint statement released before their arrival, Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Mertz and Donald Tusk said they will “stand in Kyiv in solidarity with Ukraine”.
The statement adds that they will be calling for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, first proposed by the US in March, which they say will enable talks to take place for a lasting peace.
“We are ready to support peace talks as soon as possible, to discuss technical implementation of the ceasefire, and prepare for a full peace deal,” the leaders say, adding they will “ratchet up pressure” on Russia until it agrees to an enduring ceasefire.
Later in the day, they are scheduled to host a virtual meeting with other leaders. They will provide an update on progress towards what is being called an “international reassurance force”, that Number 10 says could “regenerate” Ukraine’s armed forces after a possible peace deal.
Starmer, Macron and Merz arrive in Kyivpublished at 06:52 British Summer Time
Breaking
Ed Habershon
BBC News
Image source, EPA
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has just arrived in Kyiv, along with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The three leaders arrived by train from Poland after meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Tusk is expected to join them in Kyiv later today.
The leaders are using the visit to urge Russia to “agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire” – a proposal initially made by US President Donald Trump.
Leaders meet in Poland before heading to Kyivpublished at 06:48 British Summer Time
Image source, Donald Tusk/X
We’ve seen an image of the world leaders, who gathered in Rzeszów, Poland, before making their trip to Kyiv.
In a post on X, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk shares an insight into his meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Starmer reiterates support for Ukraine in wake of Russia’s paradepublished at 06:41 British Summer Time
Image source, PA Media
Today’s meeting of Ukraine’s allies is not the only high-profile gathering that has taken place this week.
Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted 20 international leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, for Victory Day celebrations in Moscow – an event to commemorate the end of World War Two.
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Nato allies in Norway, where he reiterated the UK’s support for Ukraine.
“The message of leaders here is very, very clear, and that is that we’re focused on Ukraine,” he said.
“And so that’s where our absolute focus is – with Ukraine, defending the values that yesterday at VE Day we were remembering and commemorating, that were hard-won in the Second World War.”
Starmer joins French, Polish and German leaders in Kyivpublished at 06:26 British Summer Time
Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent, travelling with the PM
The prime minister is travelling to Ukraine on Saturday alongside fellow world leaders to emphasise Britain’s support for the country in the war against Russia.
Keir Starmer is being joined on the visit by President Macron of France, the Polish prime minister Donald Tusk and Friedrich Merz – who is making his first visit to Ukraine since becoming Germany’s chancellor on Tuesday.
It is Starmer’s second visit to Ukraine as prime minister.
The leaders’ decision to travel to Kyiv together is a deliberately symbolic response to the more than 20 leaders who joined President Putin in Moscow for Russia’s Victory Day commemorations on Friday.
The PM and the other leaders are using the visit to urge Russia to “agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire” – a proposal initially made by US President Donald Trump.
They also vowed to “ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine”.
