Macron and Starmer Propose One-Month Ukraine Ceasefire Amid European Peace Efforts
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Summary:
French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer propose a one-month partial ceasefire in Ukraine, targeting air, sea, and energy infrastructure attacks.
The plan excludes ground combat initially and includes a potential phase for European troop deployment.
Announced at a London summit with European leaders, it seeks U.S. involvement amid ongoing transatlantic discussions.
European leaders aim to contribute to Russia-Ukraine conflict resolution.
French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have proposed a one-month partial ceasefire in Ukraine, focusing on halting air, sea, and energy infrastructure attacks. The initiative was presented during a summit in London hosted by Starmer at Lancaster House, attended by leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Canada, and other European countries, as well as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also participated, following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.
The ceasefire, described by Macron as a “two-phase approach” in an interview with Le Figaro, does not include ground combat in its initial stage, meaning fighting along Ukraine’s front lines would continue. The first phase aims to pause aerial and naval operations and attacks on energy facilities. Macron indicated that a second phase could involve deploying European troops to Ukraine, depending on the outcome of negotiations, though no immediate deployment is planned.
The London summit followed recent tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine, highlighted by Trump’s criticism of Zelenskyy for perceived insufficient gratitude for American support. Starmer stated that the UK, France, and Ukraine are working on a peace framework, with possible involvement from additional countries, to be discussed with the United States. He noted that any ceasefire would need security guarantees, including potential U.S. support, to address future Russian actions.
Macron used the summit to call for increased European defense spending, suggesting EU nations aim for 3–3.5% of GDP, exceeding NATO’s 2% target, to strengthen Europe’s role in security discussions. He emphasized the importance of European coordination amid ongoing talks involving the U.S. and Russia.
Zelenskyy attended the summit to represent Ukraine’s interests, though he has not publicly confirmed his stance on the ceasefire proposal. The exclusion of ground combat from the initial phase aligns with the complexity of the conflict’s front-line dynamics. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has commented separately on U.S.-led peace efforts but has not directly addressed this specific proposal.
Dr. Elena Petrova, a conflict researcher at the London School of Economics, described the ceasefire as a limited measure intended to create space for diplomacy, noting that its exclusion of ground fighting may affect its scope. European leaders plan to continue refining the proposal, with further discussions expected in the coming weeks, including at an EU meeting in Brussels.
The proposal’s next steps depend on negotiations involving the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine, with European leaders seeking to play a role in shaping the conflict’s resolution.