It will eventually prove to be a historical peace inspiration or just a communication jerk of European public opinion the journey by train, who decided to make a night to Kiev Macron, Merz and Starmer. The first and the third have been going through a period of polar cold for months in terms of the percentages of the popularity of their governments, while the latter has shown that after his initial stroke, he seeks to bet on the image of the cosmopolitan European politician, who has a view of everything and can move around with comfort.

Seeking unanimity

It is logical that European leaders are looking for ways to demonstrate their homosexuality and their determination to both their own inner audience and against Vladimir Putin. The question is whether they can scare him with such movements, which are no longer original. The first to choose this indeed safe way to reach Kiev and demonstrate the drama of the situation were the leaders of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia in 2022 shortly after the Russian invasion. Former US President Joe Biden himself had done it in 2023 on the occasion of the first anniversary of the war. But Friedrich Mertz also got on the train in May 2022, as the then leader of the German opposition, as was his predecessor Olf Saltz.

The solidarity of these policies towards Kiev is well known and multiplied. So why’s Putin, who at the same time welcomed the Prime Minister of a small but country of EU member, Slovakia, Robert Fitso?

The choice of threats to Moscow for new sanctions especially when they are stated through the columns of “popular” newspapers, such as Bild, is probably not the most effective diplomatic tool for the Russian president to be frightened, who has proven to be relentless and has been able to survive his country and his economy Brussels, prophesying that they will “kneel” him.

In Trump’s chariot?

It is also interesting that this crisis of determination, which has occupied Europeans, is invested with a proposal for a complete ceasefire, which is not theirs, but of Donald Trump. In short, the initiative also gives rise to the suspicion of an anxiety effort not to be fully excluded from developments. But also a little optimism that their rush is based on informing that we are actually moving in the direction of a truce in which they would not want to be recorded as mere spectators.

Symbolism and photography on the train or Maidan Square are useful, but in essence there is no new European initiative. Chancellor Mertz, of course, insisted that if Moscow continues to reject the Trump appeal, then there would be new mass assistance and military to Ukraine. It is unknown whether it implied the tradition of Taurus rockets in Kyiv.

An interesting detail, however, is that on Friday night, the Berlin government announced that it would limit information on weapons deliveries in Ukraine, so as not to allow Moscow to gain an advantage knowing the opponent’s movements. It remains to be seen how this will be practically applied.

The ball to Putin

It will also be interesting to clarify after the afternoon big teleconference whether a complete US coalition will occur with the “coalition of the willingness”, as Mertz has made sure to emphasize. However, the Coalition’s decision in LVB to set up a special court on the crimes of the Russian leadership was made without the Washington agreement, which probably considers that the threats are not the best method right now to make progress in the negotiations. Let’s not forget the congratulatory Trump-Putin phone call for the anniversary of Nazi against Nazism.

So the ball is on the Russian side. Waiting for its decision, the “willing” should come up with a plan for both the other. What if Moscow says “no”? Will we see an unprecedented escalation with unpredictable consequences and is Europe ready for this? Can it lift the cost of her own threats? If Putin again agrees on this 30 -day ceasefire, is there a ready -made plan to continue the negotiations and the next day of a ravaged country?

Macron promised “strong security guarantees to Ukraine”, even talking about sending a peacekeeping force, something that is not particularly excited about other countries. Who could participate in it and with what responsibilities? Will Ukraine integrate into NATO for the sake of peace?

All this will not be answered today. But hope is to change even the landscape and return to their homes for the four European leaders with the feeling that this initiative was not lost. At present, the frosty reaction of Moscow does not unfortunately indicate this. But Europeans cannot only hide behind it, calm that they were doing their job.