Latest news with #French-UK
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Polish foreign minister criticises government for already refusing to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine
Former Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz has criticised his country's government for its "short-sightedness" in refusing to send a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine. Source: Czaputowicz on air with the RMF FM radio station Details: Jacek Chaputowicz assessed that the success of the peacekeeping mission in Ukraine was in Poland's interests. "However, our actions, which say that we will not send troops there – because why should our sons get killed there – show that we are looking at the short term," he said. "We are not looking at the broader geopolitical conditions that are important for our country. I think that we have prematurely declared that we will not participate in this," he added. Background: The Polish government has repeatedly stated that it will not send troops to participate in a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine but wants to focus on being a logistics hub for Ukraine and possibly, in the future, an infrastructure hub if peacekeeping in the country is ensured. The coalition of the willing, led by France and the UK, has been working for several weeks on a plan to send thousands of troops to Ukraine to guarantee a future ceasefire. On 27 March in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a French-UK mission would be sent to Ukraine to strengthen the Ukrainian army. He also added that work on the potential deployment of a so-called guarantee force to Ukraine was ongoing. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
French-UK delegation arrives in Kyiv to discuss military contingent
Representatives from France, the United Kingdom and Ukraine are meeting in Kyiv on 4 April to discuss the deployment of a military contingent to Ukraine. Source: European Pravda, citing Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne Details: Diplomatic sources told Suspilne that the meetings are taking place at the level of chiefs of military staff. The French delegation is led by General Thierry Burkhard, while Admiral Antony Radakin heads the UK delegation. They will hold discussions with Ukrainian military officials throughout the day. A meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also scheduled for Friday. The French-UK delegation's primary objective is to explore the potential deployment of a foreign contingent to Ukraine. Background: On 27 March, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in Paris that a French-British mission would be sent to Ukraine to assist in strengthening the Ukrainian military. He also mentioned that discussions regarding the possible deployment of a guarantee force to Ukraine were ongoing. On 28 March, President Zelenskyy announced that a meeting of general staff representatives would be held in Ukraine to discuss the future deployment of military contingents. He described it as "the first in-depth meeting" aimed at providing "clarifications and details". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Russia Today
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Zelensky reverses hardline position on peace talks
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has said that Kiev is ready to engage in peace negotiations with Russia, to be brokered by US President Donald Trump. The statement comes after the White House reportedly stopped all military aid to Kiev following a disastrous meeting in the Oval Office between the two leaders, for which US officials have demanded Zelensky apologize. Zelensky made a concession-filled post on X on Tuesday, saying his public feud with Trump in the Oval Office was 'regrettable.' 'We are ready to work fast to end the war,' Zelensky wrote. He has frequently said in the past that Ukraine would fight as long as necessary and that peace talks could only happen on Ukraine's terms. He proposed the release of prisoners and establishing 'truces' on both the air and sea fronts, echoing suggestions by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in a meeting with him in London on Sunday. The French-UK plan envisages a temporary, month-long 'truce in the air, on the seas, and on energy infrastructure.' Moscow has repeatedly ruled out a temporary ceasefire with Kiev, insisting on a permanent, legally binding peace deal that addresses the root causes of the conflict. On Monday, Trump reportedly ordered a temporary halt to all US military aid to Ukraine, aiming to pressure Zelensky into negotiations to end the conflict with Russia. An unnamed senior administration official told Fox News that military assistance would stay suspended until the Ukrainian leadership demonstrates a genuine commitment to peace talks. 'Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer,' Zelensky continued on X, offering his appreciation for Washington's support. 'My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts,' he added. ''Ready' is good, it is positive,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reacted to the statement. During the Friday meeting, Trump accused Zelensky of ingratitude and 'gambling with World War III' by refusing to work towards a halt to hostilities. On Sunday, Zelensky told reporters that 'an agreement to end the war is still very, very far away, and no one has started all these steps yet.' Trump condemned his statement on social media, promising that 'America will not put up with it for much longer.'
Russia Today
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Macron details French-UK ‘peace plan' for Ukraine
A plan developed by France and Britain to end the Ukraine conflict involves a month-long ceasefire followed by the deployment of Western European peacekeepers to Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron has said. Kiev's backers held an emergency summit in London on Sunday, in response to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky's disastrous trip to Washington last week. Zelensky's visit to the White House was abruptly cut short on Friday after his meeting with US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance devolved into a shouting match in front of the media. Macron told Le Figaro newspaper on Sunday that he does not believe in any peace deal that could be achieved as a result of talks between the US and Russia, claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin would seek to humiliate Ukraine, including by demilitarizing it. According to the French president, Paris and London have developed their own alternative plan to stop the fighting. 'We want peace, but we do not want it at any cost, without guarantees,' he explained. The French-UK plan envisages a temporary, month-long 'truce in the air, on the seas, and on energy infrastructure,' Macron said. A contingent of Western European peacekeepers, led by France and the UK, would be deployed to Ukraine at a later stage when the situation on the ground is safe for them, he added. 'There will be no European troops on Ukrainian soil in the coming weeks. The question is how can we use this time to try to get a truce accessible, with negotiations that will take several weeks, and then, when the peace is signed, a deployment,' Macron stated. Following the gathering in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK and France are ready to lead a 'coalition of the willing' to provide military support to Ukraine, including the deployment of troops and aircraft, after a peace deal with Russia has been reached. Moscow has repeatedly ruled out a temporary ceasefire with Kiev, insisting on a permanent, legally binding peace deal that addresses the root causes of the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier said that the idea of deploying Western European peacekeepers to Ukraine is meant to 'further fuel the conflict and stop any attempts to cool it down.' Moscow has said it will view any foreign troops that arrive in Ukraine without a UN mandate as legitimate targets. President Putin stated last week that Moscow does not object to Western Europe's participation in the peace process, but stressed that 'no one can demand anything from Russia here.'
Russia Today
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Macron details French-UK peace plan for Ukraine ‘peace plan'
A plan developed by France and Britain to end the Ukraine conflict involves a month-long ceasefire followed by the deployment of Western European peacekeepers to Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron has said. Kiev's backers held an emergency summit in London on Sunday, in response to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky's disastrous trip to Washington last week. Zelensky's visit to the White House was abruptly cut short on Friday after his meeting with US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance devolved into a shouting match in front of the media. Macron told Le Figaro newspaper on Sunday that he does not believe in any peace deal that could be achieved as a result of talks between the US and Russia, claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin would seek to humiliate Ukraine, including by demilitarizing it. According to the French president, Paris and London have developed their own alternative plan to stop the fighting. 'We want peace, but we do not want it at any cost, without guarantees,' he explained. The French-UK plan envisages a temporary, month-long 'truce in the air, on the seas, and on energy infrastructure,' Macron said. A contingent of Western European peacekeepers, led by France and the UK, would be deployed to Ukraine at a later stage when the situation on the ground is safe for them, he added. 'There will be no European troops on Ukrainian soil in the coming weeks. The question is how can we use this time to try to get a truce accessible, with negotiations that will take several weeks, and then, when the peace is signed, a deployment,' Macron stated. Following the gathering in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK and France are ready to lead a 'coalition of the willing' to provide military support to Ukraine, including the deployment of troops and aircraft, after a peace deal with Russia has been reached. Moscow has repeatedly ruled out a temporary ceasefire with Kiev, insisting on a permanent, legally binding peace deal that addresses the root causes of the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier said that the idea of deploying Western European peacekeepers to Ukraine is meant to 'further fuel the conflict and stop any attempts to cool it down.' Moscow has said it will view any foreign troops that arrive in Ukraine without a UN mandate as legitimate targets. President Putin stated last week that Moscow does not object to Western Europe's participation in the peace process, but stressed that 'no one can demand anything from Russia here.'
