Macron and Starmer comment on Ukraine-US talks
Photo: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron (Getty Images)
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have welcomed the 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, agreed upon today by the Ukrainian and American delegations in Jeddah, according to BBC and Macron's post on X.
Starmer "warmly" welcomed the news from Saudi Arabia this evening.
"This is an important moment for peace in Ukraine and we now all need to redouble our efforts to get to a lasting and secure peace as soon as possible," Starmer said.
The Prime Minister repeated the phrase earlier used by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio: "The ball is now in the Russian court".
Starmer added that Russia must agree to a ceasefire and end hostilities.
"We are ready to help bring an end to this war in a just and permanent way that allows Ukraine to enjoy its freedom," the British Prime Minister emphasized.
French President Macron also quoted Rubio’s words.
"I welcome the progress made in today’s negotiations between the United States and Ukraine in Jeddah, especially regarding the idea of a possible 30-day ceasefire. The ball is clearly in Russia's court," Macron said.
He also added that France and its partners remain committed to a strong and lasting peace, supported by reliable security guarantees for Ukraine.
Efforts of France and the UK to achieve peace
Earlier, it became known that Macron and Starmer are developing a peace plan for Ukraine, which would initially include a short ceasefire but later offer broader security guarantees.
One of the options, according to Reuters, is a partial one-month ceasefire covering air and naval attacks, as well as those targeting energy infrastructure, but excluding ground combat. This ceasefire would be supported by France, the UK, and a coalition of other countries that wish to join.
Starmer also organized a summit in London on March 2, which was attended by leaders from more than 10 countries, as well as EU and NATO officials. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also attended the meeting. Among the key topics discussed was a long-term agreement to ensure sustainable peace in Ukraine and guarantee its protection from potential future attacks by Russia.
Additionally, Starmer initiated the creation of a "coalition of the willing" to ensure peace in Ukraine. The coalition's main goal is to gather countries willing to send troops to Ukraine. He also plans a second virtual summit on Ukraine later this week.
Meanwhile, French President Macron gathered the chiefs of staff of various countries in Paris today to discuss the creation of international security forces for Ukraine. At the summit, he urged them to begin planning security guarantees for Ukraine after the war ends.
