Zelenskyy Rejects Immediate Ceasefire Calls, UK Distances from Macron’s Proposal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Russia, describing it as a “failure for everyone” without detailed security guarantees. Following Zelenskyy’s stance, the United Kingdom has distanced itself from a truce proposal floated by French President Emmanuel Macron.

During the European leaders’ summit in London on Sunday, Macron told French newspaper Le Figaro that the UK and France had proposed a partial month-long ceasefire. However, in a subsequent interview with the Financial Times, Zelenskyy dismissed the idea of an immediate ceasefire, prompting the UK to clarify that the proposal was solely French.

The development comes as Europe takes the lead in peacemaking efforts in Ukraine. Macron and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have drafted a proposal for a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, backed by the United States. However, the two sides appear to be at odds regarding a ceasefire.

*Macron’s Ceasefire Proposal*

Following the summit in London, Macron stated that the UK and France had proposed a one-month partial ceasefire, which would halt fighting in the air and sea and attacks on energy infrastructure, but not ground combat. Under this plan, European peacekeepers would be deployed in Ukraine in the second phase, with no European troops on Ukrainian soil in the coming weeks.

Macron explained, “The question is how we use this time to try to obtain a truce, with negotiations that will take several weeks and then, once peace is signed, a (troop) deployment.”

*Zelenskyy’s Rejection*

Zelenskyy rejected the ceasefire proposal, emphasizing the need for security guarantees. “If you don’t have an end to the war and you don’t have security guarantees, no one is able to control a ceasefire,” he said in the interview with the Financial Times. He stressed the importance of more dialogue to firm up any proposal and ensure that the same issues do not arise after the current conflict ends.

*UK’s Position*

Despite Macron’s portrayal of the proposal as a joint effort, the UK has distanced itself from it. An ally of Starmer told the Financial Times that the proposal was not a “UK plan.” A British official further clarified, “There are various options on the table, subject to further discussions with the US and European partners, but a one-month truce has not been agreed.”

UK armed forces minister Luke Pollard expressed concerns that any pause in the conflict would allow Russia to regroup and return to the battlefield. “The very real worry that the Ukrainians have is that any short pause in the war simply allows the Russians time to re-arm, regroup and reinvade,” Pollard told Sky News.

As Europe continues its peacemaking efforts, the differing positions on a ceasefire highlight the complexities of achieving a lasting resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.