LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin will eventually have to engage in negotiations, urging global leaders to bolster support for Ukraine and maintain pressure on Moscow. During a virtual meeting hosted by Starmer, attended by approximately 26 leaders, he called for a unified focus on strengthening Ukraine, safeguarding any potential ceasefire, and sustaining pressure on Russia.
Starmer praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for demonstrating Ukraine’s commitment to peace by agreeing to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. However, he criticized Putin for attempting to delay the process, stating, “Putin is trying to delay—claiming that a ceasefire requires extensive study before implementation.” Starmer added, “Sooner or later, Putin will have to come to the table.”
The British Prime Minister also announced that military chiefs would reconvene in the UK on Thursday as the coalition transitions into the operational phase. “The group that met this morning is larger than two weeks ago, with stronger collective resolve and new commitments made,” he noted.
**Diplomatic Pressure on Russia**
President Zelensky warned that Russia is seeking to strengthen its military position ahead of any ceasefire, more than three years after its invasion of Ukraine. “They aim to improve their battlefield situation,” Zelensky stated during a press conference in Kyiv.
The ceasefire proposal, reportedly backed by former US President Donald Trump’s team, comes as Russia holds the upper hand in several areas along the frontlines. Putin has not yet agreed to an immediate ceasefire, instead presenting a series of conditions. Zelensky dismissed Putin’s claims, asserting that the Russian leader is “falsely portraying a ceasefire as overly complex.”
French President Emmanuel Macron called for joint US and European pressure on Russia to accept the proposed ceasefire. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this sentiment on X, stating that Russia must demonstrate its willingness to support a ceasefire that leads to “a just and lasting peace.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed cautious optimism about reaching a truce but acknowledged that significant work remains. Meanwhile, overnight fighting continued, with Russia claiming control of two additional villages in the Kursk border region, part of its offensive to reclaim lost territory.
**International Efforts and Responses**
Kyiv reported that its air force intercepted 130 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia across 14 regions of Ukraine. Starmer and Macron have been leading efforts to form a “coalition of the willing” since Trump initiated direct talks with Moscow last month. They argue that such a coalition, alongside US support, is essential to provide Ukraine with security guarantees and deter Putin from violating any ceasefire.
Both Starmer and Macron have expressed willingness to deploy British and French troops to Ukraine, though it remains uncertain whether other nations will follow suit. Russia has repeatedly rejected the idea of foreign troops acting as peacekeepers in Ukraine. Macron countered, “If Ukraine requests allied forces on its territory, it is not Russia’s decision to accept or reject.”
Starmer welcomed offers of support for the coalition, suggesting that some countries could contribute through logistics or surveillance. However, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni clarified that Italy does not plan to participate in any potential ground military force.
In a related development, former US National Security Adviser Keith Kellogg was appointed as special envoy to Ukraine by Donald Trump. Kellogg, who previously served as an envoy for both Ukraine and Russia, was notably excluded from recent peace talks in Saudi Arabia, reportedly due to Putin’s perception of him as overly pro-Ukraine.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the international community remains focused on achieving a ceasefire and lasting peace in Ukraine, while countering Russia’s ongoing military aggression.
