KYIV: The leaders of France, Britain and Germany arrived in Ukraine on Saturday (May 10) for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, vowing to ratchet up pressure on Russia until it agrees to a ceasefire the day after a lavish military parade in Moscow.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived together by train from neighbouring Poland. Later, they were to be joined by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

It is the first time the leaders of the four European nations have made a joint visit to Ukraine.

More than three years into Russia's invasion, the hugely symbolic show of European unity comes a day after President Vladimir Putin struck a defiant tone at a Moscow parade marking 80 years since victory in World War II.

United States President Donald Trump has proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire as a step to end the conflict. But Putin has resisted so far.

"Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace," the leaders said in a statement ahead of the visit.

"We are ready to support peace talks as soon as possible, to discuss technical implementation of the ceasefire, and prepare for a full peace deal," they added.

"We are clear the bloodshed must end, Russia must stop its illegal invasion, and Ukraine must be able to prosper as a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders for generations to come".

They warned: "We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia's war machine."

In an interview with the ABC news channel on Saturday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said arms deliveries from Ukraine's allies must stop before Russia would agree to a ceasefire.

A truce would otherwise be an "advantage for Ukraine" at a time when "Russian troops are advancing ... in quite a confident way" on the front, Peskov said, adding that Ukraine was "not ready for immediate negotiations".

"RUSSIA OBSTRUCTING EFFORTS"

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