London: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told global leaders to “keep the pressure” on Russian President Vladimir Putin to back a ceasefire in Ukraine.
In his opening remarks on Saturday to a virtual gathering of more than two dozen world leaders, Starmer said Russian President Vladimir Putin would “sooner or later” have to negotiate.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks with other world leaders during a video conference at 10 Downing Street on Saturday.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks with other world leaders during a video conference at 10 Downing Street on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
Unlike an earlier summit on March 2, Saturday’s meeting of what Starmer has termed the “coalition of the willing” was being conducted virtually. The call was expected to delve into how countries can help Ukraine militarily and financially, as well as gauge support for any possible peacekeeping mission.
“If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious, and enduring peace,” Starmer told leaders, according to remarks released by his office ahead of the meeting.
“If they don’t, then we need to strain every sinew to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to secure an end to this war.”
There was no representative from the United States, which has shifted its approach to the war since the return of President Donald Trump to the White House. The change of approach relative to that taken by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, became particularly notable after Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 28 in the Oval Office.
Saturday’s meeting took place in the wake of a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, which Zelensky has backed.
Putin has indicated that he supported a truce in principle, but he has set out a host of details that need to be clarified before agreeing to a ceasefire.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has voiced “cautious optimism” about the possibility of Putin, who met with US envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday, backing a ceasefire.
Starmer appears to be less optimistic, and was due to tell leaders that concrete commitments were required as Putin plays “pointless games” with Trump’s peace plan.
“Putin is trying to delay, saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place, but the world needs to see action, not a study, or empty words and pointless conditions,” Starmer said.
“The Kremlin’s complete disregard for President Trump’s ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace.”
Starmer has taken the lead, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, in assembling the “coalition of the willing” in part to persuade Trump to maintain support for Kyiv. One outcome has already been a growing acceptance from European countries in particular that they need to do more to secure their own security, including by increasing their defence spending.
Macron said he had spoken Friday with both Zelensky and Starmer about progress at the US-Ukraine talks earlier this week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which led to Trump resuming military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv.
Saturday’s meeting, he said, would “continue to work on reinforcing the support for Ukraine and toward a solid and lasting peace.”
Ukraine, under severe military pressure on parts of the front line three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, has already endorsed the truce proposal. Russia’s army has gained battlefield momentum, and analysts say Putin could be reluctant to rush into a ceasefire while he feels he has the upper hand in the war.
“My message to the Kremlin could not be clearer: stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, and agree to a ceasefire now,” Starmer said.