French President Emmanuel Macron has put forward the proposal for a one-month ceasefire in Ukraine "in the airspace, at sea, and over energy infrastructures." His Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, stated that a month-long ceasefire would serve "to see if Putin is acting in good faith" in supposed peace negotiations.
However, London has seemingly distanced itself from the French proposal. A Downing Street spokesperson acknowledged that there are "many options on the table among American and European partners," but emphasized that "there is no agreement on a one-month ceasefire." Secretary of State for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard also ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire and also stated that efforts should be focused "towards a lasting peace."
On his way back from the summit of European leaders in London, and in statements to Le Figaro, Macron hinted at the idea of a one-month ceasefire as part of the "plan for the cessation of hostilities" being worked on by the allies.
The French president acknowledged that the vastness of the front - "equivalent to the Paris-Budapest line" - would make it difficult to verify the cessation of hostilities on the ground, hence his proposal for a partial ceasefire that would affect actions by air and sea and attacks on energy infrastructures.
Jean-Noël Barrot reaffirmed Macron's plans in statements to RTL and stressed that a partial ceasefire should be a prelude to verifying if Putin is truly willing to engage in "genuine discussions for a lasting and solid peace."
"There has never been such a high risk of war on the European continent, and the front is approaching us," declared Barrot, who warned that "a capitulation by Ukraine would be terrible news not only for the country but for Europe and the United States." "It is with this spirit that we are trying to have exchanges at all levels with the American administration," clarified the French Foreign Minister.