Ukraine is ready to move towards peace quickly and constructively. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this during his speech at the meeting of the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing: Supporting Ukraine – Securing Our Future, which took place in Kyiv.
The meeting of the Coalition of the Willing was attended by: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of France Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer, Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, and Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk. Joining online were the Presidents of Finland, Lithuania, the European Council, the European Commission, and the Acting President of Romania; the Prime Ministers of Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, and Sweden; as well as the Secretary General of NATO, the Deputy Prime Ministers of Australia and Croatia, and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Portugal, Spain, and Türkiye.
The President of Ukraine thanked all the participants of the Coalition of the Willing for standing with Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted that the focus of today’s meeting was the 30-day unconditional ceasefire backed by sanction pressure, strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and increasing defense support for Ukraine, including investments in Ukrainian defense production, enhancing the capabilities of Ukraine's Security and Defense Forces, military contingents, and unity with the United States.
“Ukraine is ready to move towards peace quickly and constructively. We accept the American proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire. In fact, we ourselves are proposing it. Russia, as of now, is rejecting even a ceasefire, and if they refuse something as basic as that, it means they don't want to end the war at all,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
Keir Starmer stressed that the proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire is absolutely clear.
“We reject the imposition of conditions, and we need to be really clear about that. It is for Russia, it's for Putin to come to the table for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, and there must be clear sanctions if he fails to do so. There is real unity on that,” said the UK Prime Minister.
Emmanuel Macron noted that the ceasefire should apply in the skies, at sea, and on land.
“We need a clear mechanism for the attribution of potential violations with robust penalties applied. And we firmly reject the possibility of making any concessions prejudging the outcome,” the President of France noted.
Friedrich Merz emphasized that Ukraine can count on Germany’s partnership and continued financial support on the path to peace.
“It is essential that we keep the United States on board. Ukraine is not the problem. It is extremely constructive. It is Russia that does not move unless we increase pressure. Putting pressure on Russia means strengthening Ukraine. We will need to do this for a long time if the war continues,” said the Federal Chancellor of Germany.
Donald Tusk stressed that Ukrainians are fighting not only for their own freedom, independence, and territorial integrity but also for all of Europe.
“We are also here to promise you and our people that we will not be naive. We will have no illusions about Putin and Russia. It means that we will also be very tough and clear. Unconditional ceasefire means unconditional ceasefire. Nothing else,” concluded the Prime Minister of Poland.
