Latest news with #Weimar+
Glasgow Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Putin must ‘get serious' about engaging in peace talks, says Lammy
The Foreign Secretary commended Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky for his 'willingness to engage in talks' as European foreign ministers gathered in London for discussions about the continent's security. Mr Zelensky has challenged his Russian counterpart to meet him face-to-face for negotiations to end the war in his country on Thursday in Turkey. Mr Putin faces the challenge after he said he wanted to hold direct talks with Kyiv. Foreign Secretary David Lammy is expected to announce further sanctions targeting those supporting Moscow (Carlos Jasso/PA) Urging the Russian leader to step up to the table, Mr Lammy said: 'This is the time for Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace in Europe, to get serious about a ceasefire, and to get serious about talks.' But Europe's leaders are 'prepared if this is not the moment of seriousness from Putin', he added. The Foreign Secretary is hosting his counterparts from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland and the EU for a meeting at Lancaster House on Monday, after a weekend of diplomacy for Ukraine. Mr Lammy is expected to announce further sanctions targeting those supporting Moscow at the meeting of the Weimar+ group, just days after Sir Keir Starmer warned of further action if Russia does not commit to peace. US president Donald Trump said he was 'starting to doubt' whether Kyiv was willing to make a deal with Russia (Alex Brandon/AP) US president Donald Trump said on Sunday afternoon that Ukraine should agree to Mr Putin's request for talks 'immediately' and that he is 'starting to doubt' whether Kyiv is willing to make a deal with Russia. Sir Keir travelled to Kyiv on Saturday alongside his French, German and Polish counterparts for talks with Mr Zelensky about the coalition of the willing plans. Speaking at a press conference in the Ukrainian capital, the Prime Minister said that European allies 'together with the US' are 'calling Putin out', urged him to accept the 30-day truce and pledged to ramp up sanctions further if he 'turns his back on peace'. The leaders in the Ukrainian capital also spoke by phone to Mr Trump.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK hosts European ministers for Ukraine talks amid ceasefire call
The UK on Monday hosted European ministers for "critical" talks on "repelling Russian aggression", after Ukraine's allies demanded that Moscow accept a ceasefire. Ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the EU joined Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London for a meeting of the so-called "Weimar+" group. The coalition was set up in February in response to shifting US policy towards the war between Ukraine and Russia, and European security in general, under President Donald Trump. The meeting follows Saturday's visit by the leaders of France, Germany, Poland and the UK to Kyiv, where they called for Russia to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire to allow for peace talks -- a proposal they said was backed by Washington. The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas renewed the calls for a ceasefire on Monday. "If there is no ceasefire there cannot be talks under fire," she said in London, accusing Russia of "playing games". "It takes two to want peace. It takes only one to want war. And we see that Russia clearly wants war," she added. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, but did not respond to the European call for a 30-day ceasefire. Lammy said it was time for "Putin to get serious about peace in Europe, to get serious about a ceasefire, and to get serious about talks". The Ukrainian air force said Russia had fired more than 100 drones overnight, despite the calls for a ceasefire to start on Monday. "From 11:00 pm on May 11, the enemy attacked with 108 Shaheds and other types of drones," the air force said, adding that "as of 08:30 am, 55 drones were confirmed downed". - 'Existential' challenge - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered to meet Putin personally in Turkey, but did not say whether he would still attend if Russia refused the European ceasefire proposal. Trump said direct talks were needed to determine whether peace was possible. "President Putin of Russia doesn't want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY. At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly." The London meeting, where Lammy is expected to announce further sanctions targeting those backing Russia's invasion, will be the sixth gathering of the Weimar+ group and the first hosted by the UK. The talks would cover "repelling Russian aggression and bolstering European security", said the UK Foreign Office. They will focus on "both our joint efforts to strengthen European security and securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine", it added. Lammy was joined by his German, Spanish and Polish counterparts, while France was represented by its minister for Europe Benjamin Haddad. European leaders are "facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent", Lammy said ahead of the talks. "The challenge we face today is not only about the future of Ukraine -– it is existential for Europe as a whole." - Ceasefire plan - European leaders have reacted with scepticism to Putin's proposal for direct talks in Istanbul, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning that he was merely trying "to buy time". "An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations, by definition," he told reporters as he returned to Poland from the meeting in Ukraine. He reiterated his position later Sunday, insisting on the "necessity for a ceasefire" before talks between Putin and Zelensky. In a phone call with Lammy on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington's "top priority remains bringing an end to the fighting and an immediate ceasefire", State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said. jwp-lcm-bur/jkb/js
France 24
12-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
UK hosts European ministers for Ukraine talks amid ceasefire call
Ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the EU joined Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London for a meeting of the so-called "Weimar+" group. The coalition was set up in February in response to shifting US policy towards the war between Ukraine and Russia, and European security in general, under President Donald Trump. The meeting follows Saturday's visit by the leaders of France, Germany, Poland and the UK to Kyiv, where they called for Russia to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire to allow for peace talks -- a proposal they said was backed by Washington. The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas renewed the calls for a ceasefire on Monday. "If there is no ceasefire there cannot be talks under fire," she said in London, accusing Russia of "playing games". "It takes two to want peace. It takes only one to want war. And we see that Russia clearly wants war," she added. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, but did not respond to the European call for a 30-day ceasefire. Lammy said it was time for "Putin to get serious about peace in Europe, to get serious about a ceasefire, and to get serious about talks". The Ukrainian air force said Russia had fired more than 100 drones overnight, despite the calls for a ceasefire to start on Monday. "From 11:00 pm on May 11, the enemy attacked with 108 Shaheds and other types of drones," the air force said, adding that "as of 08:30 am, 55 drones were confirmed downed". 'Existential' challenge Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered to meet Putin personally in Turkey, but did not say whether he would still attend if Russia refused the European ceasefire proposal. Trump said direct talks were needed to determine whether peace was possible. "President Putin of Russia doesn't want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY. At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly." The London meeting, where Lammy is expected to announce further sanctions targeting those backing Russia's invasion, will be the sixth gathering of the Weimar+ group and the first hosted by the UK. The talks would cover "repelling Russian aggression and bolstering European security", said the UK Foreign Office. They will focus on "both our joint efforts to strengthen European security and securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine", it added. Lammy was joined by his German, Spanish and Polish counterparts, while France was represented by its minister for Europe Benjamin Haddad. European leaders are "facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent", Lammy said ahead of the talks. "The challenge we face today is not only about the future of Ukraine -– it is existential for Europe as a whole." Ceasefire plan European leaders have reacted with scepticism to Putin's proposal for direct talks in Istanbul, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning that he was merely trying "to buy time". "An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations, by definition," he told reporters as he returned to Poland from the meeting in Ukraine. He reiterated his position later Sunday, insisting on the "necessity for a ceasefire" before talks between Putin and Zelensky. In a phone call with Lammy on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington's "top priority remains bringing an end to the fighting and an immediate ceasefire", State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.
South Wales Argus
12-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Putin must ‘get serious' about engaging in peace talks, says Lammy
The Foreign Secretary commended Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky for his 'willingness to engage in talks' as European foreign ministers gathered in London for discussions about the continent's security. Mr Zelensky has challenged his Russian counterpart to meet him face-to-face for negotiations to end the war in his country on Thursday in Turkey. Mr Putin faces the challenge after he said he wanted to hold direct talks with Kyiv. Foreign Secretary David Lammy is expected to announce further sanctions targeting those supporting Moscow (Carlos Jasso/PA) Urging the Russian leader to step up to the table, Mr Lammy said: 'This is the time for Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace in Europe, to get serious about a ceasefire, and to get serious about talks.' But Europe's leaders are 'prepared if this is not the moment of seriousness from Putin', he added. The Foreign Secretary is hosting his counterparts from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland and the EU for a meeting at Lancaster House on Monday, after a weekend of diplomacy for Ukraine. Mr Lammy is expected to announce further sanctions targeting those supporting Moscow at the meeting of the Weimar+ group, just days after Sir Keir Starmer warned of further action if Russia does not commit to peace. US president Donald Trump said he was 'starting to doubt' whether Kyiv was willing to make a deal with Russia (Alex Brandon/AP) US president Donald Trump said on Sunday afternoon that Ukraine should agree to Mr Putin's request for talks 'immediately' and that he is 'starting to doubt' whether Kyiv is willing to make a deal with Russia. Sir Keir travelled to Kyiv on Saturday alongside his French, German and Polish counterparts for talks with Mr Zelensky about the coalition of the willing plans. Speaking at a press conference in the Ukrainian capital, the Prime Minister said that European allies 'together with the US' are 'calling Putin out', urged him to accept the 30-day truce and pledged to ramp up sanctions further if he 'turns his back on peace'. The leaders in the Ukrainian capital also spoke by phone to Mr Trump.
The Herald Scotland
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Putin must ‘get serious' about engaging in peace talks, says Lammy
Mr Zelensky has challenged his Russian counterpart to meet him face-to-face for negotiations to end the war in his country on Thursday in Turkey. Mr Putin faces the challenge after he said he wanted to hold direct talks with Kyiv. Foreign Secretary David Lammy is expected to announce further sanctions targeting those supporting Moscow (Carlos Jasso/PA) Urging the Russian leader to step up to the table, Mr Lammy said: 'This is the time for Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace in Europe, to get serious about a ceasefire, and to get serious about talks.' But Europe's leaders are 'prepared if this is not the moment of seriousness from Putin', he added. The Foreign Secretary is hosting his counterparts from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland and the EU for a meeting at Lancaster House on Monday, after a weekend of diplomacy for Ukraine. Mr Lammy is expected to announce further sanctions targeting those supporting Moscow at the meeting of the Weimar+ group, just days after Sir Keir Starmer warned of further action if Russia does not commit to peace. US president Donald Trump said he was 'starting to doubt' whether Kyiv was willing to make a deal with Russia (Alex Brandon/AP) US president Donald Trump said on Sunday afternoon that Ukraine should agree to Mr Putin's request for talks 'immediately' and that he is 'starting to doubt' whether Kyiv is willing to make a deal with Russia. Sir Keir travelled to Kyiv on Saturday alongside his French, German and Polish counterparts for talks with Mr Zelensky about the coalition of the willing plans. Speaking at a press conference in the Ukrainian capital, the Prime Minister said that European allies 'together with the US' are 'calling Putin out', urged him to accept the 30-day truce and pledged to ramp up sanctions further if he 'turns his back on peace'. The leaders in the Ukrainian capital also spoke by phone to Mr Trump.
