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(Bloomberg) — Ukraine and European powers demanded that Russia join an “unconditional” 30-day ceasefire from May 12 to allow talks on ending the war, saying they had backing from US President Donald Trump for the ultimatum.
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A refusal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to observe the truce would trigger a fresh wave of sanctions targeting energy and the financial sector, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Saturday.
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The plan was announced after Zelenskiy held talks in Kyiv with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish premier Donald Tusk. The five leaders then discussed the proposal in a phone call with Trump.
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“We have agreed that from Monday, May 12, a full and unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days should start,” Zelenskiy told reporters. “Together, we demand this from Russia. We know that the US are supporting us on this.”
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Ukraine and its allies had “an absolutely clear and unanimous stance” on the proposal, Zelenskiy said. “If Russia rejects a full and unconditional ceasefire, sanctions should be applied.”
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The announcement came after Zelenskiy hosted the four European leaders for a “Coalition of the Willing” meeting. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said “more than 20 leaders” took part in the discussions by joining the meeting remotely.
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“In case of violation of this ceasefire, we agreed that massive sanctions would be prepared and coordinated between Europeans and Americans,” Macron said. “In order to prepare this robust and long lasting peace, we will continue to bring our financial and military support to Ukraine.”
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier dismissed the European threat, telling state television that “it’s pointless to frighten us with these sanctions” when Russia had already learned to live with existing restrictions enacted since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
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It’s “impossible” to discuss a truce with Ukraine without taking into account a large number of nuances set out by Russia, Peskov said, according to the Interfax news service.
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Putin has shown no sign he’s willing to halt the invasion. In a speech on Friday at a military parade on Moscow’s Red Square to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, he declared Russians were united in support of his war and “that strength of spirit has always brought us only victory.”
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Trump on Thursday called for a month-long unconditional truce to create space for direct negotiations to end the war that’s now in its fourth year. The US and its partners would “impose further sanctions” if the ceasefire wasn’t observed, he said.
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Asked Friday in the Oval Office if he had a message for Putin, Trump said: “I have a message for both parties. Get this war ended.
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The pace of diplomacy to end the longest and bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II has intensified after several meetings between European, US and Ukrainian envoys, including in London and Paris. Those leaders held another a series of phone calls this week, and Zelenskiy met Trump at the Vatican on April 26, when dignitaries gathered for the funeral of Pope Francis.
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