UK will keep tightening screws on Putin's war machine with sanctions: Starmer
'President Trump's efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia's war in Ukraine,' Starmer said.He further stressed the need for continued diplomatic engagement, adding that the next phase must involve direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 'We all stand ready to support this next phase,' he said, following a phone call with Trump, Zelenskyy, and several European leaders.According to the statement by the UK PM's office, the call lasted an hour and took place after the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska. Besides Starmer, Trump and Zelenskyy, the call included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish President Karol Nawrocki and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.EUROPEAN LEADERS REAFFIRM SUPPORT FOR UKRAINEIn a joint statement issued on Saturday, several European leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine and reiterated their commitment to maintaining pressure on Russia until the war comes to an end.The statement was released after Trump briefed the group on his talks with Putin. The leaders said the next step should include direct talks with President Zelenskyy and expressed readiness to work with both Trump and Zelenskyy toward a possible three-way summit, backed by European support.Earlier this week, Starmer met with Zelenskyy at Downing Street, where both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The Ukrainian president was in London on Thursday to rally European backing and to oppose any deal that would involve ceding Ukrainian territory to Russia.Both sides agreed that the Trump-Putin meeting could represent a meaningful opportunity for progress, but only if Moscow takes credible steps toward de-escalation. Following the meeting, Zelenskyy said he and Starmer held in-depth discussions on possible security guarantees for Ukraine.In a post on X, he described the discussion as 'productive,' with a focus on how peace could be sustained if the United States succeeds in pressuring Russia to halt its military actions and engage in serious diplomacy. He also noted that the talks included discussions on investment in Ukraine's drone manufacturing sector.- EndsTune InMust Watch
IN THIS STORY#Russia#Donald Trump#Vladmir Putin#Ukraine
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Can GST reforms undo the potential damage from Trump's tariff war?
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What's next for Ukraine after White House multilateral and Alaska summit?
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He said this would be followed by a trilateral between himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy. But what happens next for Ukraine? Let us take a closer look STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Zelenskyy-Putin bilateral soon? Trump said his meeting with Zelenskyy and the European leaders was very good. He said all the parties discussed the security guarantees that would be offered to Ukraine. There are reports that the United States plans to offer Ukraine a Nato-style security guarantee. Putin himself has agreed to such a condition, according to Trump envoy Steve Witkoff. Such a guarantee would ensure Ukraine does not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), which is a red line for Russia. It would also give Kyiv peace of mind while Ensuring that other countries are not legally required to come to its defence in case of a fresh attack by Russia. Trump said he would be making arrangements to set up a face-to-face meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin. 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Trump said that bilateral would be followed by a meeting between himself, Putin and Zelenskyy. 'After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself,' Trump said. 'We're going to have a meeting. I think if everything works out well today we'll have a trilat and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD European leaders remain sceptical However, many remain wary of Putin's intentions. Stubb remarked after the meet, 'Putin is rarely to be trusted. So now it remains to be seen whether he has the courage to come to this type of meeting. Does he have the courage to come to a trilateral meeting, or is he once again playing for time?' President Emmanuel Macron also raised doubts about Putin. 'Do I think they could be conclusive? I remain very cautious,' Macron said. 'We have the American president and Ukraine who want peace… I am not convinced about Putin,' the French president said. French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump listen to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak during a meeting with European leaders in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP 'I have the greatest doubts about the Russian president's desire for peace. His ultimate goal is to take as much territory as possible, weaken Ukraine and have a Ukraine that is not viable on its own or within Russia's sphere of influence. This is pretty obvious to everyone,' Macron said. However, Macron praised Trump's 'optimism' about ensuring a peace deal and added 'it must be taken seriously'. 'If he considers he can get a deal done, this is great news and we have to do whatever we can to have a great deal,' the French president said. Still no ceasefire Prior to the summit between Trump and Putin, the US president had threatened Russia with consequences if it refused to accept the ceasefire. Trump, who in recent months had taken a harsher line on Putin, said he was mulling imposing tariffs on Moscow. Trump, remember, had vowed to end Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office again. European leaders organised a phone call between themselves, Zelenskyy, Trump and Vance to 'set the agenda' for the talks with Putin in Alaska. After the call, they said they all agreed that getting Putin to agree to a ceasefire was Trump's top priority. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, no ceasefire agreement was made in Alaska. In fact, Trump seems to have changed his tune after the face-to-face with Putin. Trump during meeting at the White House call is said to have told Zelenskyy that Ukraine does not need a ceasefire and that they should go straight into negotiating a peace deal. 'I don't know that it's necessary,' Trump said about a ceasefire. Trump said Zelenskyy and Putin should talk 'and we'll see how that works out.' US President Donald Trump has said there is no need for a ceasefire. File image/ Reuters 'I know that it might be good to have, but I can also understand, strategically, why one country or the other wouldn't want it. You have a ceasefire and they rebuild and rebuild and rebuild and maybe they don't want that', Trump said. 'In the six wars that I have settled, I haven't had a ceasefire … So if we can do the ceasefire, great, and if we don't do a ceasefire, because many other points were given to us, many, many points were given to us, great points.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump's statement music to Moscow's ears, Kremlin remains non-committal This is basically towing the Kremlin's line and is music to Moscow's ears. Kirill Dmitriev, one of Putin's top negotiators, called the meet in Washington as an 'important day of diplomacy.' Dmitriev, who also runs Russia's sovereign wealth fund, wrote on X, 'An important day of diplomacy today with the focus on Lasting Peace not a Temporary Ceasefire.' However, European leaders remain insistent that a ceasefire is necessary before any negotiations can take place. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said real negotiations Russia and Ukraine can only occur after a ceasefire has been called. Merz said weapons need to 'fall silent' before any such meet. 'The way is open for complicated negotiations. And to be honest, we all would like to see a ceasefire,' Merz said. 'The latest from the next meeting on, I can't imagine that the next meeting would [take] place without a ceasefire, so let's work on that, and let's try to put pressure on Russia,' he added. The Kremlin has said Russian President is open to meeting Zelenskyy. AFP Macron too has said a ceasefire needs to be called before any bilateral meet between Zelenskyy and Putin. Zelenskyy has agreed, in-principle, to face-to-face talks with Putin. The Ukrainian president has also said that no preconditions need to be set for such a meeting. 'I confirmed, and all European leaders supported me ,that we are ready for a bilateral meeting with Putin', Zelenskyy said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While Trump seems enthusiastic about the meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin, Russia has remained non-committal. The Kremlin has publicly said that Putin is 'open to' the idea of meeting Zelenskyy. However, there are reports that Putin during the phone call with Trump said he is willing to do meet the Ukrainian leader. Ukrainian leaders to remain sceptical. 'How can you negotiate peace without a truce, without a ceasefire, when the situation on the front line is changing?' MP Oleksandr Merezhko wondered while speaking to CNN. 'If the situation is changing, it's difficult to negotiate.' Journalist Kristina Berdynskykh added, 'I have a prediction: Everything will go great at the White House. Between Zelensky and Trump. Between Trump and the Europeans. Between Zelensky, Trump, and the Europeans. And then Trump will call Putin, and everything will change a hundred times again.' It remains to be seen what developments occur next.
