Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Kyiv on Saturday alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in a coordinated show of support for Ukraine and a renewed call for a 30-day ceasefire in the ongoing war with Russia.
The high-profile visit comes as the leaders seek to increase diplomatic pressure on Moscow, urging it to accept a full and unconditional truce—a proposal initially advanced by U.S. President Donald Trump. The leaders’ presence in the Ukrainian capital is seen as a symbolic counterpoint to the gathering of over 20 international leaders who joined Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for Victory Day commemorations just a day earlier.
“This is a message of unity and resolve,” said a joint statement released ahead of their arrival. “We, the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom, will stand in Kyiv in solidarity with Ukraine against Russia’s barbaric and illegal full-scale invasion.”
The visit marks Sir Keir’s second trip to Ukraine since taking office and Chancellor Merz’s first. Upon arrival, the leaders paid tribute at Kyiv’s Independence Square, honoring the Ukrainian soldiers who have died since the full-scale invasion began more than three years ago.
Later, the four will participate in a virtual session with the “coalition of the willing,” a group of around 30 mostly European nations exploring frameworks to secure Ukraine’s long-term sovereignty in the event of a peace agreement.
In their joint remarks, the leaders reaffirmed support for President Trump’s call for an immediate ceasefire and stressed that Moscow’s cooperation was essential for a path toward lasting peace. “We are ready to support peace talks as soon as possible,” the statement read. “The bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion.”
The coordinated visit follows Russia’s announcement of a unilateral three-day ceasefire to mark Victory Day—a gesture Kyiv has dismissed as “theatrical.” Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of continuing to launch attacks despite the declared truce, which began at midnight Wednesday and is set to expire Saturday night.
Chancellor Merz expressed optimism that the temporary ceasefire could be extended to the proposed 30-day duration. “The ball is now entirely in Moscow’s court,” he said.
President Trump reiterated his call for a ceasefire after a recent conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, warning that if the truce is violated, the U.S. and its allies will impose additional sanctions on Russia.
Until then, Starmer and other leaders vowed to “ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine” and maintain robust support for Ukraine.
