Macron announces that Europe is preparing sanctions against the “coordination” Moscow with Washington

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that Europeans continue to prepare sanctions against Russia “in coordination” with the United States, which they would impose if Moscow will continue to refuse a cessation of fire in Ukraine, AFP reports.

“What remains relevant is (…) The only concrete proposal that was made, that of ceasing the unconditional fire,” Macron explained in Tirana, after discussions without result on this subject between Kiev and Moscow in Istanbul.

“We continue (…) to prepare new sanctions in coordination with the United States, if they did not have a positive answer,” he added.

The Ukrainian delegation is waiting for “in the following hours” a “response to the requests” to the Russians, the French president added, mentioning that Europeans will carry out new discussions with Donald Trump.

President Trump “intends to organize discussions with the Russian part to clarify what was happening,” he said, mentioning possible “telephone contacts” initially with Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski expressed his regret on what he called a chance for missed peace, after a first round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia after more than three years, DPA notes.

An armistice and a direct meeting between Volodimir Zelenski and Russian President Vladimir Putin were the main objectives in the mandate of the Ukrainian delegation for these negotiations, but the Russian part only accepted to continue the discussions on these requests of the Ukrainian president.

Volodimir Zelenski and European leaders spoke to Donald Trump on Friday

The leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany, the UK and Poland spoke on Friday with US President Donald Trump, following the discussions of Kiev and Moscow representatives in Istanbul, who resulted with little progress besides an agreement for an exchange of prisoners.

“Ukraine is ready to take the most fast steps for real peace and it is important for the world to adopt firm positions,” wrote Volodimir Zelenski.

“If the Russians refuse a complete and unconditional cessation of fire and killings, there must be strong sanctions. The pressure on Russia must be maintained until Russia is ready to end the war,” added the Ukrainian president.

Shortly after, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also condemned Russia to stop the battles.

“The Russians from Istanbul interrupted the negotiations de facto and refused to cease the fire,” Tusk wrote on X. “It's time to increase the pressure,” the official added.

After talk with Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Russia's position in negotiations remains clearly unacceptable, noting that this is not the first time this happens.

“I just had a meeting with President Zelenski and then a phone call with President Trump to discuss today's negotiations,” said British Prime Minister, quoted by Sky News.

“Therefore, as a result of that meeting with President Zelenski and that call with President Trump, we are now closely aligned and we will continue to do so,” added Starmer.

A source of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration told The Kyiv Independent that the Russian delegation insisted on a Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donetk, Lugansk, Zaporojie and Herson regions, which the Kremlin declared annexed in 2022, but which it does not control.