LONDON: The leaders of Britain, Germany and France have expressed support for proposed direct talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at securing a ceasefire and advancing efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
In a joint statement issued after talks in London on Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Zelensky’s call for a diplomatic solution and his proposal for direct dialogue with Moscow, with active participation from the United States and European partners.
The meeting, held at Downing Street, brought together the leaders of the E3 group and Zelensky just days after the Ukrainian president published an open letter urging Putin to engage in face-to-face negotiations. However, the Russian leader rejected the proposal, saying he saw little value in a meeting at this stage and that any settlement must provide a long-term solution.
The four leaders stressed that an immediate and complete ceasefire should serve as the foundation for negotiations. They said the current line of contact should form the basis for talks and called for legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine, including the possible deployment of a multinational force.
They also maintained that frozen Russian assets should remain immobilised until Moscow compensates Ukraine for war-related damages. Zelensky later said discussions focused on reviving diplomatic efforts and ensuring Europe maintains a strong role in any future peace negotiations.
