Macron, Starmer and Merz support Zelenskiy's proposed direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia
At the end of the London meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, the leaders of France, Germany and Great Britain expressed their support for the Ukrainian president's proposal for a “direct dialogue” between Ukraine and Russia, which would actively involve both the United States and Europe.
Macron, Merz and Starmer support a Putin-Zelenski meeting PHOTO EPA-EFE
Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz have “welcomed the call launched by President Zelenskiy for a diplomatically negotiated end to the war”after he proposed to Vladimir Putin a direct meeting, in a letter sent on Thursday, writes Agerpres.
Paris, London and Berlin “gave their support to the proposal in favor of a direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia – with the active participation of the United States and Europe – to reach a truce and support the continuation of negotiations”according to the declaration signed by Kyiv.
Merz, Zelenski, Starmer and Macron PHOTO X / @Keir_Starmer
“The current line of contact must serve as a starting point for negotiations. International borders must not be changed by force”insisted the four leaders.
On the other hand, they have “underlined the urgent need to increase production of interceptors and jointly develop anti-ballistic missile and deep-attack capabilities”after new Russian attacks caused five deaths and damage to a nuclear site in Ukraine.
Merz, Zelenski, Starmer and Macron PHOTO X / @bundeskanzler
Volodymyr Zelensky, who announced that he will meet with King Charles III on Monday, had asked on platform X, before the meeting, for a “greater cooperation for the security of the whole of Europe in the field of air defense”.
The Ukrainian president wants to involve his European allies more in the search for a diplomatic solution, given that the attention of the American president Donald Trump has shifted to the war in Iran.
We remind you that the leader from Kiev published an open letter addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he proposed setting a clear date for a direct meeting between the two heads of state, with the aim of identifying a way to end the war. Zelenski also suggested that representatives of Europe and the United States could also participate in a possible bilateral format, in order to provide additional guarantees for a possible peace process.
Later, Vladimir Putin stated that, at this moment, he does not see the usefulness of a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart. The Russian leader said he had reviewed Zelensky's letter, which he described as a document containing “elements of disrespect” and which, in his opinion, does not contribute to the creation of the necessary conditions for a high-level meeting.
