**UK and France Call for 30-Day Ceasefire in Ukraine to Enable Peace Talks**
In a phone call on May 5, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the importance of creating conditions for genuine peace talks in Ukraine. The conversation between the two leaders comes as Russia continues its military campaign against Ukraine.
During their discussion, both Starmer and Macron stressed the need for Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire to allow for meaningful peace negotiations. This call is significant, given that previous attempts at peace talks have been unsuccessful. In fact, US President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a deal between Kyiv and Moscow during his presidency ended in failure.
**Russia Continues Ground Assaults Despite Previous Promises**
It’s worth noting that Russia has made promises of temporary ceasefires before. Just last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a three-day truce timed to the 80th anniversary of World War II victory. However, Ukraine responded by stating its readiness to implement a full ceasefire lasting at least 30 days. This shows that Ukraine is serious about engaging in peace talks, but Russia’s willingness to commit to a longer-term ceasefire remains uncertain.
**UK and France Strengthen Cooperation**
The phone call between Starmer and Macron also highlighted the strengthening of cooperation between the UK and France on defense, security, and migration policy. The two leaders agreed to hold a bilateral summit later this year, which will likely focus on these key areas.
**A Glimmer of Hope for Peace in Ukraine?**
While it’s difficult to predict whether Russia will agree to a 30-day ceasefire, the fact that Starmer and Macron are pushing for this shows their commitment to finding a peaceful solution. For now, Ukraine continues to demonstrate its willingness to engage in negotiations, but the ball is firmly in Russia’s court. Will Moscow seize this opportunity, or will it continue to drag out the conflict? Only time will tell.
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