UPDATE - France, UK propose 1-month truce in Ukraine, Macron says

UPDATES WITH REMARKS BY FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE; EDITS THROUGH

By Necva Tastan Sevinc and Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - In an interview with Le Figaro on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron said France and the UK have proposed a one-month truce in Ukraine, aimed at halting hostilities in the air, at sea, and against energy infrastructure.

Speaking on his return flight from a summit in London, Macron outlined the initiative, emphasizing that the temporary cessation of hostilities would not initially apply to ground combat.

“The advantage of such a truce is that we know how to measure it,” Macron said. He noted that Ukraine’s front line stretches the equivalent of Paris to Budapest, adding that verifying a ceasefire on the front would be challenging.

Earlier in the day, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that Paris and London were working on a plan to ease fighting in Ukraine. However, the French president acknowledged the difficulty of enforcing a broader ceasefire, warning that monitoring ground operations would be challenging.

- No immediate European troop deployment in Ukraine

Addressing speculation over potential European military involvement, Macron ruled out any immediate troop deployment in Ukraine.

"There will be no European troops on Ukrainian soil in the coming weeks," he assured, adding that discussions on a possible deployment would only take place after an initial truce and subsequent peace negotiations.

"The question is how we use this time to try to obtain an accessible truce, with negotiations that will take several weeks and then, once peace is signed, a deployment," he said.

Macron stressed that while Europe seeks peace, it must come with guarantees.

"We want peace. We don't want it at any price, without guarantees," he added.

- Truce 'will serve as proof of Putin's good faith'

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described the proposed month-long truce in Ukraine “in the air, on the seas and on energy infrastructures” as a "prerequisite" for demonstrating Putin’s "good faith," during an interview with France Inter.

"This truce in the air, on the seas, and on energy infrastructure will serve as proof of Vladimir Putin's good faith when he commits to it. That is when real negotiations for peace will begin because we want peace, but we want a solid and lasting peace," Barrot noted.