France and Britain Propose Limited Ukraine Ceasefire Amid European Summit Talks

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and the United Kingdom are considering a one-month-long ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, specifically targeting the suspension of hostilities in the air, at sea, and related to energy infrastructure. Macron views this ceasefire as a preliminary step to determine Russian President Vladimir Putin's sincerity about achieving peace, opening the path for substantial negotiations.

However, Ukrainian leadership voiced concerns about any potential ceasefire arrangement without clear security guarantees against future aggression. Highlighting the problematic legacy of previous peace accords, such as the 2014 Minsk agreements—which later collapsed leading to Russia's full invasion of Ukraine in early 2022—Ukraine is wary of repeating past mistakes by accepting insufficient terms with limited guarantees.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signaled there are several potential proposals being discussed, indicating ongoing careful deliberation amongst European nations. After hosting a European summit in London, Starmer confirmed that the UK and France, possibly alongside other select European countries, would formulate a peace initiative jointly with Ukraine, presenting their plan later to the United States to seek broader transatlantic alignment.

Starmer stressed that Europe's initiative must align with strong support from the US administration, led by President Trump, advocating for a balanced alliance in securing Ukraine's peace and national sovereignty. At the same time, he underscored Europe's need to carry more responsibility, aligning with Trump's calls for European states to increase their investment in Ukrainian security measures.

The UK government has reinforced its commitment to Ukrainian defense by unveiling an extensive £1.6 billion weapons package, aimed at enhancing Ukraine's military capabilities and deterrent strength. Notably, both British and French governments remain dedicated to the prospect of deploying ground forces within Ukraine as part of future security provisions. However, other European countries, including Germany, Spain, and Poland, have so far expressed reluctance to commit troops, reflecting varied policy stances within the European coalition.

Prime Minister Starmer, along with his European counterparts at the London summit—such as Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Spain’s Pedro Sánchez, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen—emphasized the importance of a robust collective effort in support of Ukraine. European leaders collectively called for ensuring that Ukraine has sufficient guarantees to protect its territorial integrity, warning that another hastily formed or fragile agreement could lead to further aggression. The conference reaffirmed Europe's united front, prioritizing Ukraine's active involvement in determining any future peace conditions.