War in Ukraine, photo: Libkos / AP / Profimedia
Foreign ministers from several key European countries meet in London on Monday for “crucial” discussions on Ukraine, two days after the ultimatum addressed by Kiev allies to Moscow to accept an armistice, AFP reports.
Along with the head of British diplomacy, David Lammy, will be present at the Lancaster House his counterparts in Germany, Poland and Spain.
France will be represented by Europe, Benjamin Haddad, and the EU by the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas. An Italian representative will also be present at this meeting in the “Weimar” format, launched in February last year and has already gathered six times since then.
These “crucial discussions” will be aimed at “common efforts to strengthen European security and for a fair and sustainable peace in Ukraine,” the London Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“We must remain united”
“We must remain united, allies in protecting sovereignty, peace and Ukraine,” Lammy said, quoted.
According to him, European leaders are facing a “challenge” that “not only concerns the future of Ukraine”, but “is existential for Europe as a whole.”
The head of British diplomacy was maintained with his American counterpart Marco Rubio on Sunday, who assured him that “the number one priority (of Washington) is to get the cessation of battles and an immediate armistice,” according to his spokesman, Tammy Buce.
From the French side, it is intended to insist on the meeting on “the need to maintain and increase the pressure on Russia,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for AFP said.
This meeting takes place two days after the visit to the Kiev of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, within the “Volunteer Coalition”.
Ultimatum for Moscow
Ukraine and its European allies, together with the United States, have addressed Moscow an ultimatum to accept a “complete and unconditional fire” for 30 days, otherwise Russia is to expose new “massive sanctions”.
The British Foreign Ministry has indicated that London will announce “new sanctions against actors who support the illegal invasion” of Ukraine by Russia.
Last week, the United Kingdom expanded the sanctions against the “ghost fleet” used by Moscow to export oil and gas.
Zelenski gave Putin's meeting in Istanbul
Without directly responding directly to the ultimatum of the Kiev Allies, Russian President Vladimir Putin was said to be ready “for negotiations without prior conditions” and proposed to start on Thursday in Istanbul.
His Ukrainian counterpart, Volodimir Zelenski, on Sunday guest to meet “personally” on Thursday in Istanbul.
It was not clear at that time if Zelenski was conditioning his arrival in Turkey for the prior acceptance of an armistice by Russia, AFP mentions.
US President Donald Trump urged Ukraine and Russia on Sunday to meet “immediately” without waiting for an armistice.
