France and the UK propose a one-month partial truce between Russia and Ukraine, with Emmanuel Macron and his foreign minister emphasizing the importance of determining Vladimir Putin’s intentions for genuine peace negotiations. Jean-Noël Barrot stated that such a truce, covering various domains like air, sea, and energy infrastructure, would gauge Putin’s sincerity in pursuing real peace. The truce would be a preliminary step before considering a second phase of deploying troops to Ukraine. Macron clarified that European troops would not be on Ukrainian soil immediately but underscored the significance of using the time for negotiations. However, the UK armed forces minister, Luke Pollard, did not confirm the idea, stating it was “not a plan we currently recognize.” The proposal follows a meeting of European leaders in London to bolster support for Ukraine amidst uncertainty regarding US support. The Kremlin rejected the idea of western troops in Ukraine and blamed Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for the lack of progress toward peace. Zelenskyy vowed to work with Europe on terms for a potential peace deal to present to the US. Concerns persist that Trump may pressure Ukraine to accept a peace deal favorable to Russia. The London summit also prompted discussions on the need for Europe to take the lead in supporting Ukraine, with calls from Macron to increase defense budgets across EU countries. Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s prime minister, criticized the London summit, calling for a focus on peace rather than continuing the war.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/03/uk-france-suggest-partial-truce-russia-ukraine-putin