In an effort to mediate a potential ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed European leaders to Kyiv, including UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The visit followed Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined by around 20 world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. During their time in Kyiv, the European leaders held talks with Zelensky regarding the possibility of reaching a ceasefire and a peace agreement that could bring an end to the fighting and restore stability to Ukraine.
A symbolic moment of the visit was the lighting of candles at a memorial in Maidan Square, one of Ukraine’s most historically significant locations in its struggle for independence. The ceremony honored the victims of the war and those who have fallen defending the Ukrainian state.
British government sources have emphasized that Victory Day is causing concern among many European leaders, given the ongoing events in Ukraine. Keir Starmer’s visit comes at a time when the United Kingdom is commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, highlighting the stark contrast between past peace and today’s ongoing conflict in Europe.
