France and Britain Propose One-Month Truce in Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict

French President Emmanuel Macron disclosed on Sunday that, following crisis discussions in London, France and Britain have jointly recommended a temporary ceasefire lasting one month in Ukraine. He outlined that this truce would primarily apply to air operations, naval forces, and critical energy facilities, while explicitly omitting ground clashes at least at the outset.

Macron explained that implementing a ceasefire on ground operations posed significant logistical challenges due to the extensive frontline, making it almost impossible to monitor and ensure compliance effectively. Thus, ground fighting is not included in the initial proposal. He noted that although peacekeepers were being considered, their deployment was not expected immediately, clarifying explicitly that European military forces would not arrive on Ukrainian soil in the short term.

Moreover, Macron urged European nations to enhance their military capabilities, advocating that countries should allocate between 3.0 and 3.5 percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) towards defense. He highlighted that Russia has already been allocating approximately 10 percent of its GDP to military matters for several years, signifying a pressing reason for Europe to prepare accordingly.

In his additional remarks to Italy's Il Foglio newspaper, Macron emphasized the importance of Italy's active participation and strength for successfully addressing the conflict in Ukraine. His statements followed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's remarks during the Sunday meeting, where she dismissed the possibility of Italy contributing to peacekeeping missions, stating that such responsibilities were "never on the agenda." Despite this, Macron reiterates the strategic necessity of Italy collaborating closely alongside key European actors like France and Germany to address the ongoing crisis effectively.