France Proposes Ukraine Truce Amid Global Tensions

France has proposed a limited one-month ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, according to French President Emmanuel Macron and Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. The proposal comes as European nations intensify efforts to support Kiev amid growing uncertainty over the future of U.S. backing for Ukraine.

The truce would focus on halting attacks on air, sea, and energy infrastructure, allowing Europe to assess Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to engage in meaningful peace negotiations. “Such a truce would allow us to determine whether Vladimir Putin is acting in good faith,” Barrot said on Monday. He emphasized that the initiative could serve as a litmus test for Russia’s commitment to ending the conflict.

Growing Concerns Over Escalation in Europe

Barrot’s remarks followed a summit in London where European leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine. He warned that the risk of war spreading further into Europe has never been higher. “Never has the risk of a war in Europe, in the EU, been so high,” he said. “The threat keeps getting closer to us, the frontline keeps getting closer to us.”

The French proposal, developed in coordination with the UK, envisions a short-term ceasefire that would exclude ground fighting. A second phase of the plan could involve deploying troops to Ukraine, though details remain unclear.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stopped short of endorsing the proposal but confirmed he was aware of it. “I am aware of everything,” he told reporters during a press briefing on Sunday. However, Zelenskyy stressed that a ceasefire would be meaningless without immediate security guarantees from Ukraine’s allies. He noted that Russia had violated a previous ceasefire in Ukraine’s Donbas region 25 times between 2014 and early 2022, suggesting that Moscow could not be trusted without external pressure.

UK Cautious on French Proposal

The UK has expressed reservations about the French plan. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard stated that the proposal is not one Britain currently recognizes, adding that no agreement has been reached on the terms of a potential truce. “We are working together with France and our European allies to look at what is the path to how … we create a lasting and durable peace,” Pollard said.

The French initiative underscores Europe’s growing urgency to stabilize the region as the conflict approaches its third year. However, with Ukraine demanding concrete security assurances and Russia’s past actions casting doubt on its intentions, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges.