Zelenskyy wants UK, France and Germany to pressure Putin into peace talks

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer together on May 3. Photo / Getty Images

Ukraine has turned to Britain, France and Germany to lead a renewed push for peace and take advantage of a strengthened position on the battlefield.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to resume talks to end the conflict with Russia as Moscow faces mounting casualties on the frontlines and pressure on its economy.

Diplomatic sources told the Telegraph that Zelenskyy saw potential in “re-energising” the so-called E3 format - an informal security alliance comprising Britain, France and Germany - to act as a peacemaker.

Kyiv believes that United States-mediated negotiations have run their course because US President Donald Trump has become increasingly distracted by his war in Iran.

Zelenskyy raised the possibility of an “E3 plus Ukraine” format to co-ordinate potential ideas during a phone call with France’s President Emmanuel Macron last weekend.

After the call, Zelenskyy said he was locked in talks with London, Paris and Berlin over how to give the mini alliance “greater substance”.

An E3 source confirmed that talks were ongoing but said no concrete plans had been reached for direct talks with Moscow.

Ukrainian officials believe there is a window of opportunity to broker a series of deals on an equal footing with Russia as pressure continues to build on President Vladimir Putin.

The leadership in Kyiv is in a buoyant mood after its military found a way to breach the impenetrable ring of air defence defending Moscow in drone strikes around the capital.

The Kremlin was forced to ask for a temporary truce to protect Moscow’s May 9 military parade from long-range Ukrainian attacks.

In an unusual turn of events, seen as positive in Kyiv, Putin referred to Zelenskyy by name, suggesting he would be prepared to meet to sign a peace deal.

Normally, Putin refuses to name the Ukrainian President because the Kremlin dictator does not see him as a legitimate leader.

On the battlefield in Ukraine, Russia has struggled to make any significant gains despite spending months on the offensive.

Moscow’s forces are losing about 35,000 men a month, killed or wounded, and are unable to find enough new recruits to plug the gaps.

In a further sign that Zelenskyy is buoyed by the recent strikes on Moscow, he has proposed a possible “airport ceasefire” in talks with European Union allies.

Under the plan, Brussels would attempt to negotiate a mini-truce covering commercial airports over the summer months.

It is believed that such a deal would test Putin’s appetite for a wider ceasefire.

Ukrainian officials want an EU negotiator to stress that a truce would be in the Kremlin’s interest because Kyiv’s armed forces now have the ability to “destroy” the holiday season for Russians, a source familiar with the discussions told the Telegraph.

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