Zelenskyy, EU allies moot new peace proposal: Cease fire on ‘current line of contact’ to talk truce

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Union allies on Tuesday (October 21) are weighing a new peace proposal that calls for a ceasefire along the current line of contact as a first step towards broader truce negotiations.

The initiative comes amid their accusations that Russian President Vladimir Putin is using diplomacy to stall the war, while Kyiv rejects any plan that would force it to cede territory.

European leaders back Trump’s ceasefire call

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, European and Ukrainian leaders backed US President Donald Trump’s call for an immediate halt to fighting, while stressing that Kyiv must enter any peace talks from a position of strength.

The statement — signed by the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and top EU officials — marked a coordinated European response to Trump’s renewed push for a peace deal to end the three-year war.

“We are all united in our desire for a just and lasting peace, deserved by the people of Ukraine,” the leaders said. “We strongly support President Trump’s position that the fighting should stop immediately, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations.”

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They reaffirmed a key condition for any settlement, “We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.”

EU leaders accuse Moscow of blocking progress

The statement — also signed by Zelenskyy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — accused Moscow of obstructing peace efforts.

“Russia’s stalling tactics have shown time and time again that Ukraine is the only party serious about peace,” it said. “We can all see that Putin continues to choose violence and destruction.”

The leaders also welcomed Trump’s diplomatic efforts ahead of his planned meeting with Putin in Budapest, while underscoring the need to uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Trump’s shifting stance on Ukraine war

Trump, who had previously suggested Ukraine might have to surrender land, appeared to soften his position after recent talks with both Putin and Zelenskyy, urging both sides to “stop where they are” in the ongoing conflict.

On Monday, he said that while Ukraine could eventually defeat Russia, he now doubts that outcome.

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Kyiv rejects land-for-peace deal

Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, but Kyiv insists that any deal trading land for peace is unacceptable. Officials warn that freezing the conflict along current lines could allow Moscow to regroup and launch future offensives.

The joint statement, issued by leaders from Ukraine, the UK, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Denmark, and EU officials, comes at the start of what Zelenskyy described as a “very active” week in diplomacy.

Sanctions and coalition talks ahead

An EU summit in Brussels on Thursday is expected to discuss additional sanctions on Russia, aimed at tightening pressure on its economy and defence industry. Meanwhile, the Coalition of the Willing — a 35-nation group supporting Ukraine — will meet in London on Friday to coordinate further action.