French President calls for immediate action, emphasizes unwavering support for Ukraine
Paris [France], March 15: French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Russia to accept the US-brokered proposal for a 30-day interim ceasefire in Ukraine, stressing that the ongoing atrocities must stop.
In a strongly-worded statement following his discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer, Macron criticized Russia’s "delaying statements" on the proposal.
“Russia must now accept the U.S.-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. The Russian aggression in Ukraine must end. The atrocities must stop. So must the delaying statements.”
Macron reaffirmed France’s unwavering support for Ukraine, emphasizing that all global partners would convene via videoconference to push for a lasting peace agreement.
“Tomorrow, we will continue working to strengthen support for Ukraine and to achieve a solid and lasting peace, in a videoconference with Prime Minister Starmer, President Zelensky, and all our partners.”
Zelenskyy: "Putin Cannot Be Trusted"
Following his discussions with Macron, President Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine's full support for the US-led ceasefire plan but cautioned against trusting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Ukraine supports the U.S. proposal for an unconditional 30-day full interim ceasefire. Now we see how Russia is trying to set conditions for an unconditional ceasefire, making the process shaky. Putin cannot be trusted. His reaction already shows that Moscow does not want peace or an end to the war."
Zelenskyy also shared updates on the constructive discussions between Ukraine and the US in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that Russia's reluctance to agree to an unconditional ceasefire proves that Moscow is not seeking peace.
Trump-Putin Talks & Russia’s Stance on the Ceasefire
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump claimed he had “good and productive discussions” with Vladimir Putin and hinted that the Russia-Ukraine conflict could soon come to an end.
However, Putin on Thursday appeared to question the US-brokered ceasefire proposal, setting tough conditions for its acceptance and demanding concessions from Ukraine.
“We agree with the proposal to cease hostilities, but we have to bear in mind that this ceasefire must be aimed at a long-lasting peace and it must look at the root causes of the crisis,” Putin stated at a news conference.
The Kremlin continues to argue that the current Ukrainian government itself is part of the "underlying problem," making peace negotiations difficult.
The Road Ahead: Will the Ceasefire Hold?
As global leaders push for an end to the conflict, the situation remains tense, with Russia's hesitation raising concerns over its true intentions.
The next round of discussions between Ukraine, the US, France, and other international partners will be crucial in determining whether this proposed ceasefire can turn into a lasting peace agreement.
Meanwhile, Macron’s firm stance and Zelenskyy’s warnings about Putin’s credibility highlight the ongoing complexities in resolving the war.
The world watches closely as negotiations continue, hoping that diplomacy prevails over further bloodshed.
Last Updated on March 15, 2025 by Sandeep
