Starmer, Macron, Merz and Tusk in Kyiv
The leaders of Britain, Germany, Poland and France visited Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Saturday, where they made a joint phone call to Donald Trump and also reiterated the demand for a 30-day ceasefire as a starting point for negotiations - threatening that otherwise new sanctions against Russia would follow. European media outlets assess the impact of the EU leaders' visit.
Consistency vital now
The Europeans must now show that they're serious about their ultimatum, Welt newspaper writes:
“What this means is that if Putin sticks to his refusal to agree to a ceasefire starting Monday, massive sanctions against Russia and new, extensive arms deliveries to Ukraine must follow. That would also require the supply of long-range weapons such as Taurus cruise missiles. These coming days will put the new European unity and the resolve behind it to the test. Macron, Starmer, Tusk and Merz have pushed ahead with their ultimatum. Those who make such statements must remain consistent. Otherwise Europe will lose all credibility.”
Not very productive
The meeting failed to impress Putin, writes Der Standard:
“However well-intentioned the trip to Kyiv by Keir Starmer, Donald Tusk, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz may have been, it didn't achieve much. And that's hardly surprising given that after three years of waging war against Ukraine, the Kremlin feels far too confident of victory now to allow a 'coalition of the willing' to interfere. But what is also clear is that Putin was only able to reject the ceasefire proposed by the Europeans and Kyiv on Saturday so coolly because he knows that if it really comes down to it the US would rather side with him than with Europe.”
Europe back in the game thanks to Macron
France is back on the international stage, L'Opinion comments jubilantly:
“By playing on his relations with Trump and Zelensky and his European counterparts Merz, Starmer and Tusk, Macron has managed to exploit the Russian blockade and the resulting anger in Washington to get back into the game. ... Both Washington and Moscow must now reckon with resolute action from Europe's 'big four', who are concerned about the continent's security. After the signing of the Franco-Polish treaty, the revitalisation of the Franco-German friendship and the de facto return of the UK to EU politics, this is undoubtedly good news for Europe.”
Italy has got off the train
And where is Meloni? asks La Repubblica:
“Three years ago, a photo in the same train carriage showed the French president with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as they conveyed Europe's solidarity to Zelensky. Today, Macron is still centre stage, Merz has replaced Scholz - and immediately confirmed full military and political support for Ukraine - and despite Brexit the drama of the East-West war in Europe has brought the UK under Keir Starmer back to France and Germany's side. ... But Italy has got off the train; it is no longer part of the vanguard that is leading the Europe of values, ideals and solidarity.”