UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is poised to intensify efforts against Russia amid its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In a significant diplomatic move, Prime Minister Starmer will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Downing Street as Europe anticipates a pivotal summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week.
As discussions take place in London on Thursday, Starmer emphasized Britain’s readiness to “escalate pressure” on Russia, signaling potential new sanctions aimed at compelling Moscow to accept a ceasefire in its aggression toward Ukraine.
President Trump has cautioned Russia against persisting with its military actions, warning of “severe consequences” should it refuse to halt its offensive. Following a conversation with Trump and European allies, Starmer commended the US leader for facilitating a promising opportunity for peace.
“This summit on Friday is critically important,” Starmer conveyed to the press.
“For the past three years, as I’ve informed President Trump, there hasn’t been a credible path toward a ceasefire. Now, due to the president’s efforts, we’re presented with a viable chance to achieve that,” he added.
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet Starmer at 9:30 a.m. local time (08:30 GMT) at the Prime Minister’s official residence.
The upcoming Trump-Putin meeting, set for Alaska on Friday, has raised concerns in Kyiv regarding Zelenskyy’s exclusion from the discussions. Starmer and fellow European leaders have consistently maintained that Ukraine must have a seat at any talks affecting its future.
When questioned about Zelenskyy’s absence from the Alaska summit, Trump refuted any intentional exclusion. “No, just the opposite,” he replied, indicating that a subsequent meeting with Zelenskyy could be on the horizon.
“We had a very productive call; President Zelenskyy joined us, and it went exceptionally well,” Trump mentioned, noting a strong likelihood for a second, more fruitful meeting.
Previously, Trump has proposed a territorial “swap” to facilitate a truce. Reports suggest that Putin is requesting Ukraine to relinquish control over remaining portions of the Donbas region, a suggestion Zelenskyy has firmly rejected, citing Ukraine’s constitutional prohibition on territorial concessions.
In a unified statement, the Coalition of the Willing, led by Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, affirmed that “international borders must not be altered through the use of force.” The coalition also indicated that sanctions on Russia’s wartime economy should be reinforced if Moscow continues to deny a ceasefire during the Alaska discussions.