European leaders have discussed peace efforts in Ukraine with US President Donald Trump

Sir Keir Starmer and other European leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have spoken with Donald Trump about “peace efforts” in Ukraine, according to Kyiv’s foreign minister.

Sir Keir Starmer and other European leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have spoken with Donald Trump about “peace efforts” in Ukraine, according to Kyiv’s foreign minister.

The Prime Minister is in the Ukrainian capital alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk for further coalition of the willing talks with Mr Zelensky.

Ukraine’s foreign affairs minister Andrii Sybiha posted on X on Saturday morning that “all five leaders […] had a fruitful call with [US President Donald Trump] focused on peace efforts”.

It comes after Mr Trump called for “ideally” a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, and warned that if any pause in the fighting is not respected “the US and its partners will impose further sanctions”.

Mr Sybiha said in his X post that “Ukraine and all allies are ready for a full unconditional ceasefire on land, air, and at sea for at least 30 days starting already on Monday”.

Before their trip on Saturday, Sir Keir and the other leaders called on Russia to “stop obstructing efforts” to secure a peace deal.

It is the first time the leaders of the four countries have travelled together to Ukraine, and marks Mr Merz’s first visit since he was elected chancellor on Tuesday.

After arriving in the Ukrainian capital, Sir Keir, Mr Macron, Mr Tusk and Mr Merz joined Mr Zelensky and first lady Olena Zelenska to place candles at a makeshift memorial to killed Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv’s Independence Square during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.

In a joint statement before their visit, Sir Keir, Mr Macron, Mr Tusk and Mr Merz said they “will stand in Kyiv in solidarity with Ukraine against Russia’s barbaric and illegal full-scale invasion”.

They added: “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.

“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.”

On Friday, the UK’s ambassador to the US Lord Peter Mandelson said that the UK had “influenced” Mr Trump’s views on Ukraine.

He told BBC Newsnight: “We have influenced his outlook on Ukraine in our attitude to Putin.

“You’ve seen how his stance and his language has changed just in recent weeks and indeed recent days.”

Mr Trump said on Thursday that talks with Russia and Ukraine have continued.

“The US calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He added: “Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations. If the ceasefire is not respected, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions.”

Military officers from around 30 countries have been involved in drawing up plans for the coalition which would provide a peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire being agreed between Russia and Ukraine.

Published: 10/05/2025 by Radio NewsHub