LONDON (AP) 鈥� British Prime Minister on Saturday urged Russian President to sign up to a ceasefire in its war against Ukraine if he is 鈥渟erious about peace鈥� and said allies will 鈥渒eep the pressure鈥� on the Kremlin, including financially and militarily.
At the end of a virtual meeting of what he has termed the 鈥渃oalition of the willing,鈥� Starmer said the Kremlin鈥檚 鈥渄ithering and delay鈥� over U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 ceasefire proposal, and Russia鈥檚 鈥渃ontinued barbaric attacks鈥� on Ukraine, 鈥渞un entirely counter鈥� to Putin鈥檚 stated desire for peace.
鈥淲e agreed that now the ball was in Russia鈥檚 court, and President Putin must prove he is serious about peace and sign up to a ceasefire on equal terms,鈥� the prime minister said.
Around 30 leaders were involved in the call, including European partners such as and . Also present were Ukraine's and leaders from Australia, Canada and New Zealand, as well as officials from and the .
Starmer convened the meeting, the second in two weeks, as a means of helping Ukraine in the face of a change of approach by the U.S., following the return of President Donald Trump, as well as gauging support for any future possible peacekeeping mission. Many more countries were involved this time than the
He said there was a 鈥渟tronger collective resolve and new commitments were put on the table,鈥� both in relation of the 鈥渃oalition of the willing in terms of defending the deal鈥� and also on the wider issue of the defense and security of Europe.
Troops in Ukraine to safeguard peace
Starmer said all those attending had reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine鈥檚 long-term security, and agreed that Ukraine "must be able to defend itself and deter future Russian aggression."
He added that 鈥渞obust and credible security arrangements鈥� are the best way to ensure lasting peace in Ukraine, and said military planners would convene again in the U.K. this week to progress practical plans to support Ukraine鈥檚 future security.
Without providing precise details, Starmer again said the allies were ready to put troops into Ukraine in order to safeguard the peace after any ceasefire. The UK and France have been working to get Ukraine鈥檚 allies to provide troops, weapons or other aid to that could be deployed to reassure Ukraine and deter Russia from attacking again.
鈥淲e will build up Ukraine鈥檚 own defenses and armed forces, and be ready to deploy as a 鈥榗oalition of the willing鈥� in the event of a peace deal, to help secure Ukraine on the land, at sea, and in the sky,鈥� he added.
Ceasefire without conditions
The meeting took place in the wake of a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, which Zelenskyy has backed. Putin has indicated that he but has set out a host of details that need to be clarified before agreeing to a ceasefire.
Starmer said Zelenskyy's backing for an unconditional ceasefire shows that Ukraine is the 鈥減arty of peace鈥�.
Zelenskyy emerged from the meeting calling for strengthened sanctions to pressure Russia into accepting a ceasefire without conditions that could pave the way for a peace deal. In a series of posts on X, he said 鈥淢oscow understands one language鈥� and that a 30-day ceasefire 鈥渨ithout killings鈥� would create a window in which 鈥渋t would truly be possible to negotiate all aspects of a real peace.鈥�
He also said it wasn't up to Putin who is stationed in Ukraine after any peace agreement as he gave his backing to a European contingent on the ground with an American 鈥渂ackstop."
"If Putin wants to bring some foreign contingent onto Russia鈥檚 territory, that鈥檚 his business. But it is not his business to decide anything about Ukraine鈥檚 and Europe鈥檚 security,鈥� Zelenskyy said.
鈥楪ood vibes coming out of Russia鈥�
The United States has shifted its approach on the war since the return of Trump to the White House. The change of approach relative to that taken by President Joe Biden became particularly notable after Zelenskyy on Feb. 28 in the Oval Office.
Starmer has taken the lead, along with Macron, in assembling the 鈥渃oalition of the willing,鈥� 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 ensure their own security, including by increasing their defense spending.
Trump voiced optimism Friday that Putin, who met with will back a ceasefire.
鈥淚'm getting from the standpoint about a ceasefire and ultimately a deal some pretty good vibes coming out of Russia,鈥� he said.
Ukraine, on parts of the front line three years after Russia鈥檚 full-scale invasion, has already endorsed the truce proposal. Russia鈥檚 army , and analysts say Putin likely will be reluctant to rush into a ceasefire while he feels he has an advantage.
鈥淭he world is watching,鈥� Starmer said. "My feeling is that sooner or later he is going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussions.鈥�
___
John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report.
Pan Pylas, The Associated Press
