Kremlin calls Europe ‘confrontational’ after leaders back 30-day truce with Ukraine

Russia on Saturday criticised Europe's recent moves as "confrontational" towards Russia. This comes as top European leaders met Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Kyiv and proposed a 30-day ceasefire.

"We hear contradictory statements from Europe. They are generally confrontational rather than oriented towards attempts to somehow resuscitate relations," Russia's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, answering a question not directly related to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Kyiv's allies.

French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK prime minister Keir Starmer, and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday in a rare show of European unity since the beginning of the Ukraine war three years ago.

The leaders warned they would increase pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin if he refused to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. They also said they had informed US president Donald Trump about the proposal during a phone call the previous day.

Trump also called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on Thursday, shortly after speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the phone.

The Kremlin had announced a symbolic three-day ceasefire to mark Russia’s Victory Day, beginning at midnight on Thursday and ending on Saturday. The pause was intended to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Russia’s World War II victory. However, Ukraine quickly dismissed the move, calling it insincere.