May 10 (UPI) — European leaders from Britain, France, Germany, and Poland joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Saturday to urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept a 30-day unconditional cease-fire or face additional sanctions.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merez traveled to Kiev on the same train, but Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk was on another, according to the Guardian. Several hours later, at 1 a.m. local time Sunday, Putin remarked, “We propose to the Kyiv authorities to resume the talks that they broke off in 2022, and, I emphasise, without any preconditions.” He indicated that “direct talks” with Ukraine might begin as early as Thursday. The two nations met in Istanbul just weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukraine’s leaders have not remarked on Putin’s suggestion. Zelensky claimed they “spoke to President Trump together.” We reached an agreement on our future course of action.” “The cease-fire must be comprehensive: in the air, at sea, and on land,” Zelenskyy told journalists. “It is entirely possible to monitor the cease-fire in collaboration with the United States of America; this is extremely practical. The cease-fire should endure 30 days to give diplomacy a fair shot. In a post on X, Zelensky claimed he was “grateful to President Trump” and wanted the cease-fire to begin on Monday.

“We share a common view: an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire is needed for at least 30 days,” Zelensky wrote in a letter to X. “We propose that it begin on Monday, May 12. We are waiting for Russia to respond. “This plan has been on the table since the talks in Saudi Arabia, when it was initially presented by the US. When the ceasefire begins, it will be the finest time for diplomacy. Ukraine is open to consultations and negotiations in any format.” The plan was denied by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who told Russian news agency Interfax that he has heard “many contradictory statements from Europe.” They are often combative in nature, rather than attempting to restore our relations. “Nothing more.”

Peskov previously stated that Russia would only agree to a cease-fire if the United States and Europe ended arms deliveries to Ukraine. “Otherwise, it will be advantageous for Ukraine,” he told ABC News. “Ukraine will continue their total mobilization, bringing new troops to frontline,” Putin also wants Ukraine to relinquish huge portions of its eastern and southern territories that Russian forces have not yet occupied. “Macron, Merz, Starmer, and Tusk were meant to talk peace in Kyiv. Instead, they are making threats against Russia,” Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and current deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, told the BBC.

The four European leaders made their first united appearance at a virtual conference of the “coalition of the willing,” which consists primarily of European states. They stated they would help Ukraine if there was a long-term cease-fire in the now three-year-old conflict, which began when Russia attacked its neighbor on February 24, 2022. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen all joined in via video link. Macron stated that “some 20 countries” are in “unanimity” over the cease-fire, referring to Ukraine as “the beating heart of Europe.” He stated that once the cease-fire is reached, there will be a “number of steps we’re working on.” This involves strengthening Ukraine’s army.

“All of us here, together with the United States, are calling Putin out. “If he is serious about peace, he has an opportunity to demonstrate it now,” Starmer added. Merz, who took office on Tuesday, said Saturday that if Russia rejects the ceasefire agreement, Europe will continue to defend Ukraine. Macron filmed the leaders’ train journey, which included a stop in Poland, on Instagram, and also uploaded a video of the group with Zelensky and Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska visiting a military memorial in central Kiev. Macron and Starmer also accompanied Zelensky on a visit to Saint Sophia Cathedral.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the meeting in Kyiv was “symbolic” and demonstrated “the strength of our unity.” Putin declared a three-day cease-fire, which concluded on Saturday, but Russia did not abide by it, as happened during Russia’s one-day Easter truce last month. Zelensky accused Russia of roughly 3,000 infractions, while Russia said Ukraine broke the cease-fire more than 1,000 times.