Failed British-French Efforts to Achieve a Ceasefire in Ukraine
March 3, 2025, 10:46 am

Failed British-French Efforts to Achieve a Ceasefire in Ukraine

روسيا وأكرانيا

French news agency reports that a British minister has announced the failure of both Britain and France to reach a proposal for a month-long ceasefire in Ukraine.

Luke Pollard, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, stated in comments made on Monday that ongoing consultations between the two countries did not result in an agreement regarding the partial ceasefire proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday. The minister explained to Times Radio that "no agreement has been reached on the shape of the ceasefire," adding that a British government official confirmed the lack of consensus on the proposed ceasefire.

Earlier, President Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had suggested a month-long ceasefire that includes halting attacks in the air and at sea, as well as freezing strikes on energy infrastructure, in preparation for negotiations to end the war.

A meeting was also held in London among leaders of countries allied with Ukraine, aimed at demonstrating support for Kyiv and enhancing security in Europe, while emphasizing the need for strong support from the United States under the current circumstances. This came after a heated exchange between former presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, which intensified pressure on the Ukrainian president.

Macron revealed to *Le Figaro* that the proposal includes a halt to attacks in the air and at sea, as well as a reduction in targeting energy infrastructure in Ukraine. He also highlighted the need for European countries to increase their defense spending to between 3 and 3.5% of their GDP, given the expected changes in American policies with Trump taking office, who has begun talks with Russia without European or Ukrainian participation.

Following the meeting attended by Zelensky, Starmer pointed out the necessity for Europe to bear the brunt of the peace support efforts, while emphasizing the importance of American backing to achieve this goal. The summit provided an opportunity to strengthen communication among leaders and express their support for the Ukrainian president amidst growing geopolitical challenges.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
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