In a major diplomatic development, the leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Poland are on their way to Kyiv for a crucial meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will arrive in the Ukrainian capital tomorrow, Saturday, where they are set to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Their joint mission: to press Russia to accept a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire and to strengthen coordinated international efforts to support Ukraine.
In a statement released late Friday, the four leaders pledged to increase pressure on Russia’s war machine if Moscow refuses to halt its offensive.
Earlier today, President Zelenskyy confirmed the upcoming meeting, saying the coalition of the willing — a bloc of about 30 nations led by France and Britain — will gather in Kyiv to discuss post-ceasefire support plans.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, the Kremlin says it is open to the idea of a ceasefire — but with conditions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that while President Vladimir Putin supports the 30-day ceasefire proposal, he emphasized that many “nuances” must be addressed before such a move can be implemented.
Russia has long insisted that any long-term ceasefire must come with reliable monitoring mechanisms to ensure it holds.
In a separate development, tensions are flaring between Ukraine and Hungary as both nations have accused each other of espionage. In tit-for-tat moves, each country expelled two diplomats from the other side.
And in Russia, grand military parades marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, showcasing Moscow’s military might even as international attention remains fixed on the Ukraine conflict.
Meanwhile, Germany’s diplomatic push continues on multiple fronts. Chancellor Merz met today with top EU and NATO officials, while German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul traveled to Lviv for separate talks on ongoing Western support for Ukraine.
We will continue to monitor these fast-moving developments and bring you updates as they happen.
Reporting by Megan Owen
