Keir Starmer hails Volodymyr Zelensky's desire for a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer has hailed Volodymyr Zelensky's desire for a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine, amid worries a Russian land grab could result from negotiations to end the war.
The Prime Minister and French President Emmanuel Macron chaired a meeting of the coalition of the willing on Sunday afternoon, where allied leaders prepared for a meeting with US President Donald Trump alongside Mr Zelensky in Washington on Monday.
European leaders appear poised to join Mr Zelensky in a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian president, after his last encounter with his American counterpart in the Oval Office resulted in a diplomatic crisis.
Giving a readout of the video call between coalition allies, a Downing Street spokesman said: "The leaders reaffirmed their continued support to Ukraine, and praised President Zelensky's desire for a just and lasting peace as he prepares for further consultations with President Trump in Washington DC.
"The leaders also commended President Trump's commitment to providing security guarantees to Ukraine, in which the coalition of the willing will play a vital role through the Multinational Force Ukraine, among other measures.
"They re-emphasised the readiness to deploy a reassurance force once hostilities have ceased, and to help secure Ukraine's skies and seas and regenerate Ukraine's armed forces."
The call followed fears that Mr Trump may have been swayed by Vladimir Putin's demands for ending the war when the pair met in Alaska on Friday. News reports suggested Mr Putin wants full control of Donetsk and Luhansk, two occupied Ukrainian regions, in exchange for withdrawing troops from other areas.
Mr Trump is inclined to press the Ukrainian president to accept the demands at their meeting on Monday, the reports added. The US leader also appeared to change his mind about the need for a ceasefire following his meeting with Mr Putin, who has refused to lay down arms ahead of a sustained peace deal.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio has since insisted Russia will face "additional consequences" if no peace deal is reached. Fresh sanctions are not off the table, Mr Rubio told American broadcasters, though he claimed they would not lead Russia to accept a ceasefire.
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European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said it did not matter that Mr Trump was no longer aiming for a ceasefire before brokering a wider peace, as either would "stop the killing".
Appearing alongside her at a press conference before the coalition of the willing call, Mr Zelensky agreed, but insisted negotiations needed to result in the "correct steps to have lasting peace, to stop Putin" rather than simply a pause in the war.
Earlier, Mr Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said Mr Putin had agreed to Nato-like protection for Ukraine for the first time at the Alaska summit, as a concession to western allies.
"We were able to win the following concession: That the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in Nato," he told CNN.
European leaders on Saturday suggested Mr Trump had indicated he is now willing to provide American air support for the alliance, a "security guarantee" said to be vital to its operation.
Those travelling to Washington on Monday alongside Sir Keir include Mr Macron, Germany's Friedrich Merz, Finland's Alexander Stubb, EU Commission presiden t Ms von der Leyen and Nato chief Mark Rutte.
Ahead of the Oval Office encounter, the allies are likely to be mindful of the previous time Mr Zelensky appeared in the room - February's bust-up, which resulted in American aid to Ukraine being temporarily halted.
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