France has put forward a bold proposal for a one-month truce in the Russia-Ukraine war, aiming to pause key aspects of the conflict and test Moscow’s readiness for peace. Announced by President Emmanuel Macron in an interview with Le Figaro on March 3, 2025, the plan would halt attacks on air, sea, and energy infrastructure but leave ground fighting unchecked due to monitoring challenges along the sprawling frontline. Developed in coordination with the UK after a European summit in London, the truce is seen as a stepping stone to broader negotiations, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot noting it could reveal “whether Vladimir Putin is acting in good faith.”

The proposal emerges from a weekend of intense diplomacy hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who rallied European leaders to support Ukraine amid its war with Russia. However, the plan remains in early stages, lacking full consensus. British officials, including junior minister Luke Pollard, distanced themselves from Macron’s specifics, stating it’s “not a plan we currently recognize,” though they confirmed multiple options are on the table. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, briefed on the idea, stressed that any ceasefire hinges on robust Western security guarantees—something U.S. President Donald Trump has so far rebuffed following a contentious White House meeting.

Reaction has been mixed. The Kremlin rejected the truce outright, arguing it would extend the war, while Hungary’s Viktor Orbán labeled it a pro-war gambit. With no deployment of European troops planned until after talks progress, the proposal’s fate rests on upcoming discussions, including a U.S. trip by UK Defence Secretary John Healey. For now, France’s initiative is a diplomatic trial balloon—ambitious but untested—aiming to break the deadlock in a conflict now in its third year, even as allies scramble to align their strategies.