LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to call upon approximately 25 world leaders on Saturday to make tangible commitments in support of Ukraine and to intensify pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire. Starmer aims for the video call on Saturday to result in concrete pledges of assistance for Ukraine leading up to any peace agreement, and to ensure the nation’s security thereafter. The meeting is planned to display broad backing for Ukraine from Western nations, including Europe, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Starmer will be looking for offers of logistical, financial, or military aid for Kyiv to strengthen its position ahead of negotiations.
This video call on Saturday extends the recent diplomatic efforts by European and other Western countries to find ways to aid Ukraine after U.S. President Donald Trump altered Washington’s supportive stance and initiated peace talks with Russia. Starmer has indicated that Britain could deploy peacekeepers to Ukraine if a ceasefire agreement is reached, but has urged Washington to provide a security ‘backstop’ for those forces, a move he deems crucial to dissuade further attacks by Putin.
In a pre-meeting statement, Starmer emphasized the importance of being prepared to oversee a ceasefire should Russia engage in meaningful peace talks, and to escalate economic pressure on Russia if necessary to bring an end to the conflict. He sent a clear message to the Kremlin to halt the brutal assaults on Ukraine immediately and agree to a ceasefire. Starmer accused Putin of prolonging the conflict by setting unreasonable conditions for a ceasefire.
On Thursday, Putin expressed conditional support for a U.S.-proposed ceasefire, insisting that fighting cannot cease until specific criteria are met. He outlined demands such as Ukraine abandoning its NATO aspirations, Russia gaining control over the disputed Ukrainian regions, and the reduction of the Ukrainian military – demands that Kyiv has rejected.
(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Christina Fincher)
