European Leaders Urge Putin to Engage in Peace Talks as Zelenskyy Calls for Meeting

European foreign ministers issued a united call for peace in Ukraine on Monday, with several top diplomats urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage seriously in negotiations, The Gaze reports. 

Their appeals came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeated his willingness to meet Putin and warned that time was running out to avoid more bloodshed.

Spain

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said, “The Europeans want peace, Ukraine … wants peace – now it’s up to Russia and Vladimir Putin to give their answer.” He added that Spain is “ready to continue support for Ukraine [for] as long as it takes,” but stressed that any new talks, potentially in Istanbul later this week, must be meaningful.

Poland

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also urged a real ceasefire, saying, “We hope that parties will find a way to cease fire and to have productive, real negotiations about ending this war and bringing back respect for international law.” 

In a stronger statement, he added, “If he [Putin] yet again rejects it [ceasefire], then the logical conclusion is that pressure should be brought to bear not on the victim of aggression, but on the perpetrator of aggression, until he feels the pain and becomes more reasonable.”

Estonia

Estonia’s foreign minister Kaja Kallas criticized Moscow’s behavior overnight, referring to more than 100 Russian drones launched at Ukraine. 

“We have to put pressure on Russia to really want peace and to sit down and to talk with Ukraine,” she said, accusing Russia of “playing games.” She added, “If they are continuing bombing Ukraine all the time, if there’s no ceasefire, there can’t be talks under fire.”

France

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot echoed these calls, stating: “We want peace, we want negotiations.” He called for “an unconditional truce in air, sea, ground for 30 days,” and praised Zelenskyy’s efforts.

 “President Zelenskyy has shown time and time again, that he is open to negotiation that he wants diplomacy that he wants peace. … Meanwhile, Putin’s only response has been more bombing.”

Germany

Germany’s new foreign minister said Berlin “expects Russia to agree to ceasefire,” and is prepared to provide additional military aid to Ukraine if negotiations fail.

United Kingdom

From London, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy stressed that Putin must “get serious” about engaging in peace talks. 

“This is the time for Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace in Europe, to get serious about a ceasefire, and to get serious about talks,” Lammy said. He praised Zelenskyy’s “willingness to engage in talks,” and affirmed Europe’s preparedness if Russia rejects the latest effort.

As the Gaze previously reported, the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine have jointly called for a full and unconditional ceasefire in Russia’s war against Ukraine, effective from Monday, May 12, for a minimum duration of 30 days.