Starmer maintains Ukraine ceasefire is 'viable' ahead of London meeting with Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy is to arrive at 9.30am at Downing Street, the prime minister's office said.
Starmer has maintained there was now a 'viable' chance for a Ukraine ceasefire.
Putin and Trump will meet tomorrow at an air base in Alaska, the first time the Russian leader has been permitted on Western soil since his February 2022 invasion of Ukraine which has killed tens of thousands of people.
Advertisement
With such high stakes, all sides were pushing hard in the hours before the meeting.
Zelenskyy, who has refused to surrender territory to Russia, spoke on thje phone with Trump yesterday, as did European leaders who voiced confidence afterward that the US leader would seek a ceasefire rather than concessions by Kyiv.
Trump himself sent mixed messages, saying that he could quickly organize a three-way summit afterward with both Zelenskyy and Putin but also warning of his impatience with Putin.
'There may be no second meeting because, if I feel that it's not appropriate to have it because I didn't get the answers that we have to have, then we are not going to have a second meeting,' Trump told reporters.
Russia, Trump said, would face 'severe consequences' if it does not halt its offensive.
But Trump said: 'If the first one goes okay, we'll have a quick second one,' involving both Putin and Zelenskyy.
Related Reads
Macron calls for the inclusion of Ukraine in planned talks between Putin and Trump next week
Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in the next few days
Putin pitched the meeting after Trump threatened sanctions on Russia. Trump has already ramped up tariffs on India, which has become a key buyer of Russian energy.
Zelenskyy, after being berated by Trump at a February meeting in the White House, has publicly supported US diplomacy but made clear his deep skepticism.
'I have told my colleagues – the US president and our European friends – that Putin definitely does not want peace,' Zelenskyy said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who welcomed Zelenskyy in Berlin, said Ukraine is ready to negotiate 'on territorial issues' but stressed that legal recognition of Russian occupations 'would not be up for debate.'
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte declared: 'The ball is now in Putin's court.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Trump says he thinks Putin is ready to make deal for peace in Ukraine
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and his European allies have intensified their efforts this week to prevent any deal between the US and Russia emerging from Friday's summit in Alaska that leaves Ukraine vulnerable to future attack. 'I think President Putin will make peace, I think President Zelensky will make peace,' Mr Trump told reporters at the White House. 'We'll see if they get along.' Mr Trump has downplayed talk of a ceasefire emerging from the summit and speculated about a possible second meeting to come, involving more leaders. 'I think it's going to be a good meeting, but the more important meeting will be the second meeting that we're having. We're going to have a meeting with President Putin, President Zelensky, myself, and maybe we'll bring some of the European leaders along. Maybe not. I don't know that.' Putin earlier spoke to his most senior ministers and security officials as he prepared for a meeting with Mr Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, at 11.30am Alaskan time (8.30pm Irish time) that could shape the endgame to the largest war in Europe since World War II. In televised comments, Putin said the US was 'making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities, stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in this conflict'. This was happening, Putin said, 'to create long-term conditions for peace between our countries, and in Europe, and in the world as a whole – if, by the next stages, we reach agreements in the area of control over strategic offensive weapons'. His comments signalled that Russia will raise nuclear arms control as part of a wide-ranging discussion on security when he sits down with Mr Trump. A Kremlin aide said Putin and Mr Trump would also discuss the 'huge untapped potential' for Russia-US economic ties. A senior Eastern European official, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said Putin would try to distract Mr Trump from Ukraine at the talks by offering him possible progress on nuclear arms control or something business-related. 'We hope Trump won't be fooled by the Russians; he understands all [these] dangerous things,' the official said, adding that Russia's only goal was to avoid any new sanctions and have existing sanctions lifted. Mr Trump said there would be a press conference after the talks, but that he did not know whether it would be joint. He also said in an earlier interview with Fox News that there would be 'a give and take' on boundaries and land. 'This meeting sets up like a chess game,' Mr Trump said. 'This meeting sets up a second meeting, but there is a 25pc chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting.' Mr Trump said it would be up to Putin and Mr Zelensky to strike an agreement, saying: 'I'm not going to negotiate their deal.' Russia controls around a fifth of Ukraine, and Mr Zelensky and the Europeans worry that a deal could cement those gains, rewarding Putin for 11 years of efforts to seize Ukrainian land and emboldening him to expand further into Europe. An EU diplomat said it would be 'scary to see how it all unfolds in the coming hours. Trump had very good calls yesterday with Europe, but that was yesterday'. Mr Trump had shown willingness to join the security guarantees for Ukraine at a last-ditch virtual meeting with European leaders and Mr Zelensky on Wednesday, European leaders said, though he made no public mention of them afterwards. Today's summit, the first Russia-US summit since June 2021, comes at one of the toughest moments for Ukraine in a war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Speaking after Wednesday's meeting, French president Emmanuel Macron said Mr Trump had said the transatlantic Nato alliance should not be part of any security guarantees designed to protect Ukraine from future attacks in a post-war settlement. However, Mr Trump also said the US and all willing allies should be part of the security guarantees, Mr Macron added. Expanding on that, a European official told Reuters that Mr Trump said on the call he was willing to provide some security guarantees for Europe, without spelling out what they would be. On Wednesday, Mr Trump threatened 'severe consequences' if Putin does not agree to peace in Ukraine and has warned of economic sanctions if his meeting today proves fruitless.
Irish Post
4 hours ago
- Irish Post
Mairead McGuinness withdraws from Presidential race
MAIREAD McGuinness has withdrawn from the upcoming Irish presidential election, citing health concerns following a recent hospital stay. According to a statement from Ms McGuinness, the decision came after medical advice, with the proximity of the election making an arduous campaign untenable. The former MEP and EU Commissioner, who was seen to be in pole position to win the race to the Áras, said that the decision was difficult, but that her health had to come first. She confirmed that it was the right decision for her "and her family". In her statement she said that she had informed the Fine Gael leader, Tánaiste Simon Harris, of her decision. Tánaiste Harris described her withdrawal as 'an awful shock' and praised her exceptional record in both national and European public service. Ms McGuinness is widely respected in Europe, after serving as commissioner in the EU. This was seen as a major strength should she have become President. Fine Gael's Director of Elections for the upcoming Presidential election Minister Martin Heydon, confirmed that Fine Gael's Executive Council will convene in the coming days to determine the next steps. However, it is widely believed that they will press ahead to find a new candidate to contest the election. McGuinness had been the only formally nominated candidate from Fine Gael and was widely seen as the frontrunner in the race. Her departure leaves Independent TD Catherine Connolly, backed by Labour, Social Democrats, and People Before Profit, as the only confirmed contender thus far. See More: Fine Gael, Mairead McGuinness, Presidency, Áras
The Journal
4 hours ago
- The Journal
What's the beef between this previous and current presidential hopeful?
PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL GARETH Sheridan, a millionaire most people in the country had not heard of before this week, kick-started his campaign today with a jaw-dropping accusation. Sheridan held the first press conference of his presidential campaign in Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel this morning and chose to open it by claiming that there has been a coordinated attack on his character. He claimed that this attack came from people associated with Seán Gallagher, the businessman and former Dragon's Den star who came second in the 2011 presidential election. The Journal put Sheridan's claims about Gallagher today to a spokesperson for Seán Gallagher, but has not received a response. So far, Gallagher has chosen not to comment on his relationship with Sheridan or on his departure from Nutriband. Addressing his past business relationship with Gallagher, Sheridan mused at the outset of his press conference today: 'Perhaps somebody is taking our breakup a little bit worse than me'. The Journal / YouTube Speaking directly to the journalists gathered in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin for his launch, Sheridan said the coverage they have given of his campaign so far has been 'commendable'. He continued: 'But, just one thing I wanted to bring to your attention is that there seems to be somewhat of a coordinated attack taking place on my character by people associated and in Seán Gallagher's circle.' He quickly followed this up by adding: 'Now, I'm not saying for a moment that Seán is behind this or involved in any way. 'At MacGill [Summer School] a couple of weeks ago he actually encouraged participation, asked the media to be nice to candidates that were brave to come forward and actually put their name in the ring. Advertisement 'But some of you in the room know what I'm talking about. That's all I'll say about that.' The Journal / YouTube So what the hell has gone on between the pair to merit such a statement from Sheridan at the outset of his campaign? The background How do Sheridan and Gallagher know each other? Sheridan, the 35-year-old multi-millionaire, is the founder and former CEO of US-based pharma company Nutriband. Seán Gallagher became chairman of the firm in 2018 and departed four years later in 2022. Asked about their relationship during a radio interview on Monday, Sheridan said he had not been in contact with Gallagher to get any advice about running for office. What do we know about Gallagher leaving the company? Sheridan and his company, Nutriband, only really gained mainstream recognition in Ireland earlier this week when he announced his bid for the Áras. Since then, journalists have been looking into the presidential hopeful, and there have been numerous reports on both him personally and on his company. Some of these related to Gallagher's departure from the company. On Tuesday, there were reports of 'mystery' surrounding his exit , but by Wednesday morning, the Irish Independent had reported that Gallagher had left the company's board over a row related to a $180,000 corporate box. Related Reads Millionaire Áras hopeful launches presidential campaign in the Shelbourne - here's what he said The millionaire millennial seeking the presidency: How did Gareth Sheridan get so rich? Catherine Connolly is using American-style grassroots fundraising for her presidential campaign According to the report, Gallagher raised concerns about the box at the Orlando Magic basketball arena, and in a statement to the Irish Independent, Sheridan insisted that the box makes a 'great return'. The statement from Sheridan further explained that communication broke down between the company and Gallagher in 2022, ahead of his resignation. What was the breakdown in communication about? Sheridan used his press conference today to shed some further light on this breakdown and on the pair's relationship. He explained that ahead of Nutriband being listed publicly on the stock exchange in 2021, it had received advice that it would be better to have a chairperson with capital markets experience. 'We proposed this to Seán. We asked him to voluntarily step aside on the same remuneration,' Sheridan said. He then explained that Gallagher was not agreeable to this, communication broke down, and a new chairperson was voted in by a majority of shareholders. 'I wish Seán nothing but the best in whatever he's working on now. I'd just like to be very upfront and make sure that you're aware of the situation that we're facing. Perhaps somebody is taking our break-up a little bit worse than me,' Sheridan said. Sheridan has not yet formally received a nomination to run in this year's presidential election. To date, Catherine Connolly is the only candidate formally in the race following the unexpected withdrawal today of Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... Our Explainer articles bring context and explanations in plain language to help make sense of complex issues. We're asking readers like you to support us so we can continue to provide helpful context to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Learn More Support The Journal
