German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz and French President Emmanuel Macron warn Russia that he will face ‘Extremely stricter sanctions’ If he refuses the 30 -day truce requested by the West.

If President Vladimir Putin does not agree with the truce, “There will be a huge hardening of sanctions and huge help to Ukraine will continue – politically, natural, but also economically and military,” Mertz told Bild, who visits Kiev on Saturday with the leaders of France, Britain and Poland.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz, and British Prime Minister Kir Starmer arrived in Kiev in the morning to express together Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to support their support for Ukraine.

The three leaders came out of the train that transported them to Kiev from Poland and are going to meet later Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski and Tusk.

In a formal ceremony, they left candles in a monument For the fallen war of Ukraine.

The visit of the leaders of France, Germany, Britain and Poland, symbolically responds to the celebrations of Moscow yesterday for the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and about 20.

“We continue to increase our support in Ukraine. We are intensifying our pressure on the Russian war machine until Russia receives a truce that will last, “the four leaders said in a joint statement yesterday.

Macron, Starmer, Mertz and Tusk will participate with Zelenski with other leaders of the “alliance of the willing”, western countries mainly European- who are ready to offer “security guarantees” to Ukraine.

European leaders went to Kiev reinforced by the call of US President Donald Trump, who pressed Russia on Thursday to accept “unconditionally 30 -day truce”, while threatening Moscow with new sanctions if it refused.

Russia, which currently controls 20% of Ukrainian territory, “he avoids, sets terms, saves time and continues his invasion war,” Macron complained in a post on X today, shortly before he arrived in Kiev.

The French president reiterated his threat to new “much tougher” sanctions against Russia if he refuses to accept a truce, according to an interview with French TF1 and LCI television networks carried out on the train that was transported to Kiev.

At the same time, Macron called for “direct negotiations” between Ukraine and Russia. In the case of a 30-day truce, “we start direct Ukraine-Russia talks. We are ready to help, “he assured.

Corresponding was the reaction of the German Chancellor, who also threatened Moscow that “sanctions would harden” against her, if she refuses the truce, in an interview with the Bild newspaper.

If the Kremlin refuses, “Then the sanctions will be harden and the massive help will continue to Ukraine. In the political part, of course, but also in economic and political ‘, Merz stressed.

In a joint announcement issued yesterday by the four European leaders, they pointed out that “we reiterate our support for President Trump’s calls in favor of a peacekeeping agreement and ask Russia to cease to raise obstacles”.
“On the side of the US, we call on Russia to accept a complete and unconditional 30 -day truce in order to be able to hold talks aimed at a fair peace with duration,” they added.

Speaking to the US television network ABC, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov estimated that before a ceasefire would have to stop west weapons in Kiev, as otherwise “Ukraine will be in an advantage”.

“Ukraine will continue full recruitment, bringing new troops to the front,” he added. “Ukraine will be taking advantage of this period to train new military personnel and offer a respite to the existing one. So why give this advantage to Ukraine? “He asked.

Mitsotakis: Need for immediate implementation of unconditional 30 -day truce

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis today participated in a Saturday conference call by leaders about Ukraine, which was convened by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Kir Starmer.

The prime minister reiterated Greece’s support for Ukraine and the need for thirty -day unconditional implementation, as proposed jointly by US and European allies.

Shameless

Peskov also said that Kiev is not ready for negotiations. “President Putin does everything possible to solve the problem, to achieve a settlement through peaceful and diplomatic media. But as no peaceful and diplomatic means are available, we must continue the “Military Operation” »the Kremlin spokesman appreciated.

Russia, he added, hoped Trump’s mediation would help exist ‘A little more flexibility, A little more political will and wisdom than the Kiev regime. “

Russian official also argued that Ukraine ‘Not ready for immediate negotiations’, While Vladimir Putin tries to “It achieves a settlement by peaceful and diplomatic means.”

In the meantime the US Embassy in Ukraine warned yesterday of the danger of large ‘Air attack’ from Russia in the coming days.

Ukrainian media reported on Saturday that Russia has informed about the closure of its airspace over military facilities used in 2024 to launch the latest generation of Russian Orechnik rocket, which may mean that Moscow is preparing for a new one.