French, German, and British leaders have voiced their support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal to establish a “direct dialogue” between Ukraine and Russia, emphasizing that it should include the “active participation of the United States and Europe.”
Following a meeting with the Ukrainian leader in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed Zelensky’s diplomatic push to end the war. The endorsement follows an open letter sent by Zelensky to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he proposed a face-to-face meeting.
Putin responded by stating he sees “no interest” in such a meeting unless a deal to end the war is negotiated beforehand.
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According to the joint statement signed by the “E3” leaders and Kyiv, Paris, London, and Berlin have expressed their backing for direct talks to achieve a ceasefire and sustain ongoing negotiations under specific parameters:
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The Starting Point: The current frontline must serve as the baseline for negotiations.
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Territorial Integrity: International borders must not be altered through the use of force.
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Defense Scalability: The leaders stressed the urgent need to ramp up the production of interceptors and jointly develop ballistic missile defense and deep-strike capabilities.
“The current line of contact should be the starting point for negotiations. International borders must not be changed by force.”
— Joint E3 and Ukrainian Statement
The diplomatic push comes amid renewed Russian airstrikes that killed five people and caused damage near nuclear infrastructure. A Russian drone strike partially destroyed an empty building at a nuclear fuel repository within the Chernobyl exclusion zone.
While Ukraine’s state nuclear operator, Energoatom, confirmed that radiation levels remain normal, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed deep concern over the strike occurring at a site holding significant amounts of nuclear material.
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Zelensky’s European tour—which includes a scheduled meeting with King Charles III—reflects an effort to deeply involve European allies in a diplomatic solution. This comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has shifted much of its strategic focus toward the ongoing war in Iran.
The meeting at 10 Downing Street marks a unified stance among Europe’s major powers to prevent Ukraine from being sidelined in potential peace talks while simultaneously bolstering its air defense capabilities.
