France has proposed a partial truce with Russia in support of Ukraine, as fighting continues on the battlefield. The proposal comes after US President Donald Trump’s tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which ended without an agreement.
European leaders have been divided over how to respond to the conflict, but French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested creating a “reassurance force” of up to 30,000 troops to secure key infrastructure in Ukraine. However, US officials have stated that they will not participate in any such force.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has called for strong support from his European partners and warned of the consequences of not providing it. He has said that the conflict is “terrible” and that he needs to work with Europe on terms for a possible peace deal to present to the US.
Despite the tensions, some leaders are calling for EU countries to raise their defence budgets to 3-3.5% of gross domestic product to strengthen European military capabilities. Germany’s Viktor Orbán has expressed opposition to this plan, saying it would be “bad, dangerous and mistaken”.
The conflict in Ukraine remains a major point of contention between Russia and the West. With fighting continuing on the battlefield, it is unclear when or if a truce will be reached.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/03/uk-france-suggest-partial-truce-russia-ukraine-putin