The Blubber

In a united front with Kyiv, leaders from four major European nations warned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday that they are prepared to escalate pressure if he refuses to accept a proposed unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

The ceasefire proposal—set to begin Monday—was jointly backed by France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland. According to the leaders, U.S. President Donald Trump has also endorsed the initiative following a phone briefing earlier in the day.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN that Russia would need time to assess the offer. Earlier Saturday, Peskov reaffirmed Moscow’s stance that it is open to peace negotiations with Ukraine “without preconditions,” while accusing Kyiv of obstructing such efforts.

Russia’s own three-day unilateral ceasefire, timed to mark the 80th anniversary of its World War II victory, expired Saturday. Ukraine has alleged repeated violations by Russian forces throughout the brief truce. In March, the U.S. proposed a limited 30-day pause in hostilities, which Ukraine agreed to—but Russia has held out for more favorable terms.

Standing beside the European leaders in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the gathering as “a very important signal.”

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the U.S. would take the lead in overseeing compliance with the proposed ceasefire, with European countries providing support. He also warned of “massive sanctions ... prepared and coordinated between Europe and America” should Russia breach the agreement.

Macron was joined in Kyiv by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

“This is Europe stepping up, showing our solidarity with Ukraine,” Starmer said.

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, added that a “comprehensive” 30-day halt to attacks—across air, land, sea, and infrastructure—could mark the beginning of the end to Europe’s most protracted conflict since World War II.

Meanwhile in Moscow, President Putin held a round of bilateral meetings with visiting foreign officials who attended Russia’s Victory Day commemorations. The guest list, including Vietnamese Communist Party chief To Lam and leaders from Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, and the Palestinian Authority, appeared aimed at countering the West’s efforts to isolate Russia diplomatically.