UK to Host European Ministers for Ukraine Talks Amid Ceasefire Push
The UK will host key European ministers in London on Monday, May 12, for “critical” talks focused on “repelling Russian aggression” and strengthening Europe’s security.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy will welcome officials from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the European Union for a meeting of the “Weimar+” group, created earlier this year in response to changing US policy on the Ukraine war under President Donald Trump.
The gathering follows a Saturday visit to Kyiv by leaders from France, Germany, Poland, and the UK. During that trip, they called on the Kremlin to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire to pave the way for peace talks.
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to hold direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, but he did not respond to the call for a ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said initially that Kyiv would join the talks only if there is a ceasefire, but later, in multiple evening updates, said he would go regardless
“And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses,” he said in one update.
“Starting tomorrow, we await a ceasefire – this proposal is on the table. A full and unconditional ceasefire, one that lasts long enough to provide a necessary foundation for diplomacy, could significantly bring peace closer,” he said in another update.
This will be the sixth Weimar+ meeting and the first held in the UK. Lammy is expected to announce new sanctions targeting those who support Russia’s invasion.
The talks will cover “repelling Russian aggression and bolstering European security,” said the UK Foreign Office.
“This is a once-in-a-generation moment for Europe’s collective security,” Lammy said. “This is not just about Ukraine – it’s about the future of Europe.”
European leaders have expressed doubt about Putin’s offer for direct talks, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying it may be a stalling tactic.
“An unconditional ceasefire, by definition, must come before negotiations,” Macron said after returning from Ukraine.
He repeated that stance later Sunday in a statement from the Elysee Palace, calling again for a ceasefire before any talks between Putin and Zelensky.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Lammy by phone on Sunday. According to a State Department spokesperson, Rubio said Washington’s top priority is ending the fighting through an immediate ceasefire.
There have been concerns that President Trump might lean toward Moscow, especially after past tensions with Zelensky. But recently, Trump has shown frustration with Putin’s actions.
Source: Kyiv Post