Ukraine Russia Online: Britain’s guests of European ministers at negotiations on Ukraine
Britain hosts European ministers at negotiations on Ukraine and security.
Foreign Ministers within the Weimar+ group will only take place two days after the Allies of Kiev called on Russia to receive an unconditional 30-day ceasefire with effect from Monday 12 May.
Representatives of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the European Union will visit London. « The challenge we face today is not only about the future of Ukraine, but is of existential importance for the whole of Europe, » said British diplomacy chief David Lammy before the meeting.
According to a statement by the British Foreign Ministry, Lammy is to announce further sanctions aimed at persons supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which started in February 2022.
The meeting follows Saturday’s visit to France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom in Kiev.
During the meeting together with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European leaders called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire valid from Monday, and at the same time threatened to impose new sanctions if Moscow refused the call. The United States and other countries also supported the initiative.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine on Sunday night, which should take place on Thursday 15 May in Istanbul, Turkey. However, he did not respond to the European call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
In response, Zelenskyj said he was ready to meet Putin in Turkey. However, he did not say whether he would participate in the meeting even if Russia rejected the proposal for the proposed monthly ceasefire.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Putin was just trying to get time with this step. « The unconditional ceasefire does not preceded negotiations, » he told reporters after returning from Ukraine.
He also reiterated his attitude in the statement of the Elysee Palace on Sunday evening, insisting on the « necessity of the ceasefire » before the negotiations between Putin and Greeny. The same attitude is also promoted by the German government led by the new office of Friedrich Merz.
In London, it will be the sixth meeting of the Weimar+ and the first to guests Britain. The Weimar+ group was established in February in response to the changing politics of the United States under the leadership of Donald Trump.
Monday’s meeting will also take place a week before the London Summit between Britain and the European Union. (TASR)
