French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and Germany are working closely to support Ukraine and are actively pursuing a 30-day ceasefire initiative. 

The statement came during a joint press conference with newly elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Elysee Palace.

“There is only one key question: is Russia truly willing to commit to a 30-day ceasefire as a step toward building a lasting peace?” Macron said. He also called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to honor the promises made in past discussions with the U.S.

Chancellor Merz expressed cautious optimism about the prospects for a permanent ceasefire in Ukraine but refrained from making any new security commitments on behalf of Germany.

“We will stand by this 30-day ceasefire effort and work toward a durable peace,” Macron emphasized, reaffirming the strong coordination between France and Germany. Photo by Remi Jouan, Wikimedia commons.