The statement by the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine in the context of seeking pathways to peace in Ukraine has become one of the main outcomes of the recent meeting in Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a joint document on his official Facebook account, reflecting the position of key European leaders and confirming their solidarity in the pursuit of a swift and just end to active hostilities. The statement calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days, starting from May 12. This represents a critical milestone for diplomatic efforts, emphasizing that an unconditional ceasefire cannot and should not be limited by any preconditions or additional commitments from Ukraine or the West. According to the leaders, any deviation from these principles by Russia—for example, by making demands or presenting justifications to prolong the escalation—should be viewed as an attempt to stretch the war and increase diplomatic pressure. A key point of the document is the guarantee that the ceasefire must be comprehensive: it will cover not only land territory but also air and maritime spaces, making any ad hoc manipulations by the aggressor impossible. They stress that achieving genuine peace requires an effective monitoring system and coordination with the United States, a significant partner in this process. This is intended to ensure transparency in implementing agreements and to prevent any illusions about potential abuses. Additionally, the joint statement highlights the importance of focusing internal diplomatic work on defining security, political, and humanitarian aspects of the future settlement. The leaders unanimously emphasized that strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities remains and will remain the main guarantor of its sovereignty and security, as well as a regional stability factor. This should be achieved through the strengthening of Ukraine’s armed forces and the attraction of international investments into the production of weapons and military equipment, both within Ukraine and in European countries, as part of joint defense projects. Regarding sanctions policy, the leaders underscored the need to implement additional restrictions if Russia refuses to cease fire or attempts to destabilize the situation. The draft new sanctions strategy envisages imposing the strictest measures against Russia’s banking and energy sectors—particularly targeting oil and gas industries—as well as against the shadow fleet, aiming to intensify pressure on the Russian economy. European leaders agreed to accelerate work on adopting the EU’s 17th sanctions package, coordinating it with measures introduced by the United Kingdom, Norway, and the United States. An important aspect remains the utilization of frozen Russian assets—particularly engaging them in financing peacekeeping initiatives, Ukraine’s reconstruction, and security support. They expressed their intention to discuss this issue at the upcoming G7 summit to ensure coordinated and highly effective steps. Overall, in prolonging support for Ukrainian defense, there is a continued focus on increasing financial and material aid to Ukraine, including residual investments in developing modern weapons, technological systems, and military equipment. This aims to strengthen Ukraine’s defense, as well as to create a long-term stabilization and security mechanism capable of withstanding the challenges of the current conflict and ensuring sustainable peace in the region. Analyzing this diplomatic initiative, one can assert that the central idea is the desire to unify all efforts through diplomacy, with the understanding that only through coordinated and concerted actions can a sustainable result be achieved and further conflicts avoided. At the same time, international partners continue to demonstrate unwavering support for Ukraine, emphasizing its vision of a peaceful settlement and readiness to impose the strictest sanctions and security measures in response to provocations or sabotage by Russia.