The leaders of Britain, France, and Germany — collectively known as the E3 — voiced support on Sunday, 8 June for direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, calling for an immediate and complete ceasefire following a summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London. The joint statement marks one of the most coordinated European diplomatic pushes since the conflict escalated.

Key Developments from the London Summit

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a joint statement alongside Zelensky after the London meeting, endorsing direct Ukraine-Russia negotiations with the active participation of both the United States and Europe. The four leaders agreed that the current line of contact should serve as the starting point for any ceasefire negotiations.

The statement underscored that Europe must play a central role in the peace process, with all efforts conducted in close coordination with Ukraine, European partners, and Washington. Notably, the leaders stressed that any post-ceasefire security arrangements must safeguard European security interests, and that matters relating to the European Union and NATO would require the explicit consent of their respective member states.

Zelensky's Open Letter and Moscow's Response

The London summit followed a significant diplomatic exchange earlier in the week. On Thursday, Zelensky published an open letter proposing a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the peace process directly. 'Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us — and you. I am proposing a meeting,' Zelensky wrote, suggesting that Europe and the United States be involved in the process.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded the same day, saying Zelensky 'can come to Moscow any time' if he wishes to hold talks with Putin — a response widely interpreted as non-committal but not a flat rejection. Zelensky also called for setting a clear date for the meeting and confirmed that Ukraine was prepared to implement a full ceasefire for the duration of negotiations.

Proposed Venues and Neutral Hosts

According to Zelensky's letter, Switzerland, Turkey, and several Arab countries have expressed readiness to host potential talks. The willingness of multiple neutral parties to provide a venue reflects growing international urgency around the conflict, which has now stretched into its third year with no formal peace framework in place.

Zelensky also cautioned against waiting for the United States to refocus attention on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, noting that Washington is currently focused on its confrontation with Iran — a pointed acknowledgement of competing geopolitical pressures on the primary Western backer of Kyiv.

What the E3 Statement Signals

This comes amid broader Western efforts to consolidate a unified position ahead of any formal negotiations. The E3's explicit endorsement of direct talks — rather than a mediated process alone — represents a shift toward accepting bilateral engagement as a necessary step. European leaders have historically been cautious about direct Ukraine-Russia dialogue without robust security guarantees for Kyiv.

The insistence that NATO and EU matters require member-state consent is a quiet but firm signal to Moscow that any settlement cannot unilaterally redraw the European security architecture. How Russia formally responds to both the E3 statement and Zelensky's letter will be closely watched in the days ahead.