'Bloodshed must end!' Keir Starmer jets off to Ukraine alongside Emmanuel Macron as West 'ratchets up pressure on Russia's war machine'

Starmer, who is being joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish premier Donald Tusk, will visit the beleaguered Ukrainian capital is designed to expose Putin as the main obstacle to peace efforts.

The European leaders will also meet to discuss defending Ukraine's airspace and seas following any potential peace deal, with pressure being put on the Kremlin to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire that has been proposed by the United States.

Russia has continued to resist calls from America, Ukraine and European nations to sign up to this ceasefire plan.

However, tomorrow's joint visit aims to highlight Putin as the barrier to peace negotiations.

"We reiterate our backing for president Trump's calls for a peace deal and call on Russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace," the European leaders said in a joint statement.

"Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace."

The statement represents a clear sign that European leaders and Donald Trump are more closely aligned than at any point since the US president began his bid to end Russia's invasion.

By supporting Trump's position, the European delegation hopes to highlight Putin as the main obstacle to peace efforts.

Putin has said he would agree to a ceasefire, but only under conditions set by the Kremlin.

These conditions include preventing Ukraine's battle-stricken armed forces from replenishing their stockpiles.

This contrasts with the US truce offer which would freeze fighting unconditionally.

The US truce offer, backed by Europe and Ukraine, would freeze the fighting unconditionally to pave the way for peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

Merz told journalists during a visit to Nato headquarters in Brussels: "The ball is exclusively in Moscow's court."

Ukrainian sources, however, do not expect any breakthrough from the European visit.

Russia's Victory Day parade was attended by China's Xi Jinping, Slovakia's Robert Fico - the only EU leader to travel to Moscow - and former MP George Galloway.

The celebration featured Russian drones, ballistic missiles and tanks in Red Square.

In a notable moment, Putin embraced a North Korean general after North Korea sent troops to help Russia.

Putin called a three-day ceasefire to honour the Victory Day celebrations, but both Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of breaching it.

Ukrainian President Zelensky dismissed the truce offer as a "theatrical show" designed to protect the parade from long-range Ukrainian attacks.

Visiting dignitaries in Moscow were sheltered under what experts called a bomb-proof cover.

On Friday night, reports emerged that the Trump administration was in talks with European officials to finalise an agreement on the 30-day ceasefire.

These discussions also include plans to impose new sanctions on Russia if Putin continues to resist peace efforts.