Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warmly welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street for critical discussions just before a significant summit in Alaska involving U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Starmer remarked on a "viable chance" for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and emphasized the need to uphold Ukraine’s territorial integrity, stressing that international borders should not be altered by force.
The meeting at Number 10, coordinated for maximum visibility, highlights the UK’s firm support for Ukraine. Just a day before the Alaska summit, Zelensky and European leaders reiterated their position during a joint call with Trump.
In a related statement, visiting U.S. Vice-President JD Vance reaffirmed Trump’s mission to foster peace in Europe. Recently, Trump hinted at potential "swapping of territories" that raised concerns about Ukraine conceding any land to end the conflict. Ukraine has firmly refused to recognize any territorial claims that Russia has made, especially regarding Crimea, insisting on its right to maintain control.
Following discussions with European leaders, Starmer conveyed that any ceasefire must be enduring and come with security assurances. He spoke of forming a "coalition of the willing" comprising various European nations ready to provide military aid to Ukraine, including on-ground support, to prevent Russia from violating peace agreements. This coalition is prepared to intensify economic pressure on Russia through measures like heightened sanctions.
Echoing his sentiments, Sir Alex Younger, former MI6 head, pointed out Trump's unique potential to mediate the situation while cautioning that Putin's true intentions are focused on dominating Ukraine. Vice-President Vance, who is on holiday in the UK, also addressed American troops stationed there, noting the historic strength of U.S.-UK relations.
Meanwhile, during the press conference following his call with European leaders, Trump highlighted the possibility of a meeting among him, Zelensky, and Putin to discuss further progress towards peace. He warned Putin of "severe consequences" should he reject the proposal to end the war, while Zelensky maintained that Russia shows no interest in pursuing peace.
