UK, France, Germany back Zelensky call for Putin meeting

The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have backed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's proposal for direct ceasefire talks with Russia. The joint statement, issued after defense talks in London with Zelensky, supported a dialogue with active U.S. and European participation to achieve a ceasefire and advance negotiations. The leaders emphasized that the current line of contact should be the starting point for talks and that international borders must not be changed by force.

Zelensky had previously proposed a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an open letter, though Putin had dismissed the idea, stating he saw no point until a peace deal was agreed upon. Zelensky also mentioned meeting with Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in Kyiv to convey a message to Putin, stating, "You are fighting against us on our territory. We will not leave and we will not go out from our territory, no we will not give you victory."

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The current line of contact should be the starting point for negotiations. International borders must not be changed by force.

The diplomatic push comes as the war stretches into its fifth year and Ukraine seeks more ammunition for air defenses amid daily Russian strikes. Recently, Russia launched drones and munitions that damaged a nuclear storage facility near the Chernobyl disaster site. Ukrainian officials reported that radiation levels remained normal, but a fuel reception building was partially destroyed. Moscow and Kyiv have intensified drone attacks on each other as U.S.-led diplomatic efforts remain stalled.

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You are fighting against us on our territory. We will not leave and we will not go out from our territory, no we will not give you victory.