UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for showing no genuine interest in peace, urging fellow world leaders to unite in a “coalition of the willing” to monitor and enforce a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.
Speaking ahead of a virtual summit with 25 global leaders on Saturday, Starmer stated, “We can’t allow President Putin to play games with President Trump’s deal.
The Kremlin’s complete disregard for President Trump’s ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace.”
Starmer, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, has been spearheading efforts to establish this coalition, which would provide security guarantees to Ukraine and deter Russia from violating any ceasefire agreement.
Macron echoed the call, urging Russia to cease its violent actions and embrace the proposed ceasefire.
As Starmer prepares to push for a global commitment to this cause, he emphasized the necessity of “ramping up economic pressure on Russia” to force Putin into serious negotiations.
The virtual summit will also discuss how countries can contribute to peacekeeping efforts, with some countries, like Turkey, offering potential support, while others, such as Ireland, have ruled out sending troops.
Starmer concluded, “If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious, and enduring peace.”
