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Keir Starmer accuses Vladimir Putin of hollow promises on ceasefire Starmer says sanctions should increase on Russia to secure Ukraine peace
(about 2 hours later)
Sir Keir Starmer has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of making "hollow promises" on a ceasefire in Ukraine. Starmer: 'Now is the time for increasing sanctions on Russia'
The prime minister co-hosted a summit of allies in Paris to present plans, devised by senior military chiefs, that seek to deter future Russian aggression against Ukraine, including potentially posting troops there. Western sanctions on Russia need to be increased, not weakened, in order to bring it to the negotiating table, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The so-called "coalition of the willing" meeting came hours after its other co-host, French President Emmanuel Macron, suggested a European reassurance force could "respond" if attacked by Moscow. The prime minister accused Vladimir Putin of "playing games and playing for time" after the Russian president demanded sanctions are lifted before a maritime ceasefire with Ukraine is enacted.
It follows separate talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, which led to a ceasefire in the Black Sea being agreed. "Now is not the time for pulling back or weakening sanctions - now is the time to increase sanctions to get them to the table," Starmer said in Paris, where he is meeting European leaders.
Sir Keir told coalition allies that "excellent progress" had been made during the military chiefs' meeting in London last week, and that Europe was "mobilising together in pursuit of peace, but now we must keep up the momentum", according to No 10. The so-called "coalition of the willing" summit follows separate talks held by the US with Ukrainian and Russian negotiators, which led to a a ceasefire in the Black Sea being agreed.
But he also accused Putin of "playing games" with the agreement for a naval ceasefire, which would allow the reopening of trade routes in the Black Sea. Starmer said on Thursday that there needed to be a "framework and a deadline" for Ukraine peace talks.
Sir Keir said: "Unlike [Ukraine's] President [Volodymyr] Zelensky, Putin has shown he's not a serious player in these peace talks. He said he had agreed with partners at the summit, which hosted representatives from 30 nations as well as the European Union and Nato, that "we must go further now to support the peace process, support Ukraine and increase the pressure on Russia to get serious".
"[Putin is] playing games with the agreed naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, despite good faith participation from all sides - all while continuing to inflict devastating attacks on the Ukrainian people. His promises are hollow." "It means increasing the economic pressure on Russia, accelerating new tougher sanctions, bearing down on Russia's energy revenues, and working together to make this pressure count," he said.
Speaking alongside Zelensky after the meeting, Sir Keir said the allies had offered Ukraine their full support "for as long as it takes". Starmer said that the political mood to find a just and lasting peace in Ukraine was "stronger and broader" than it had ever been, adding that "Europe as a whole has not been this strong and united in a long time".
He said the meeting was "bigger than we have had before", with 30 countries plus Nato and the European Union represented. Speaking with Ukraine's President Zelensky earlier, Starmer accused Russia of "continuing to inflict devastating attacks on the Ukrainian people" and said Putin's promises were "hollow".
"There was absolute clarity that Russia is trying to delay and playing games, and we have to be absolutely clear about that," Sir Keir said.
Zelensky said that everybody at the meeting understood "that Russia doesn't want any kind of peace", and that they would discuss security guarantees in the coming weeks and days.Zelensky said that everybody at the meeting understood "that Russia doesn't want any kind of peace", and that they would discuss security guarantees in the coming weeks and days.
Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of breaking the terms of a separate, tentative deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure.Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of breaking the terms of a separate, tentative deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure.
Shortly after Washington announced the Black Sea deal, the Kremlin said it would not take effect until sanctions were lifted on Russian banks, producers and exporters involved in the international food and fertiliser trades.Shortly after Washington announced the Black Sea deal, the Kremlin said it would not take effect until sanctions were lifted on Russian banks, producers and exporters involved in the international food and fertiliser trades.
The concessions demanded by Russia include reconnecting the banks connected to the Swift payment system, lifting restrictions on servicing ships under the Russian flag involved in the food trade, and revoking sanctions on the supply of agricultural machinery and other goods involved in food production.The concessions demanded by Russia include reconnecting the banks connected to the Swift payment system, lifting restrictions on servicing ships under the Russian flag involved in the food trade, and revoking sanctions on the supply of agricultural machinery and other goods involved in food production.
US President Donald Trump said the US government was "looking at" Moscow's request - but the EU said it would not consider removing sanctions before the "unconditional" withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine's internationally-recognised territory.US President Donald Trump said the US government was "looking at" Moscow's request - but the EU said it would not consider removing sanctions before the "unconditional" withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine's internationally-recognised territory.
Speaking after a meeting with Macron on Wednesday, Zelensky said he hoped the US - which is not a part of the coalition of the willing - would "stand strong" in the face of Russian demands to lift sanctions.Speaking after a meeting with Macron on Wednesday, Zelensky said he hoped the US - which is not a part of the coalition of the willing - would "stand strong" in the face of Russian demands to lift sanctions.
Representatives of the coalition of the willingRepresentatives of the coalition of the willing
The French president said that if a European force protecting a ceasefire in Ukraine came under attack, it would "respond to it".The French president said that if a European force protecting a ceasefire in Ukraine came under attack, it would "respond to it".
"If there was again a generalised aggression against Ukrainian soil, these armies would be under attack, and then it's our usual framework of engagement," he said."If there was again a generalised aggression against Ukrainian soil, these armies would be under attack, and then it's our usual framework of engagement," he said.
"Our soldiers, when they are engaged and deployed, are there to react and respond to the decisions of the commander in chief and, if they are in a conflict situation, to respond to it.""Our soldiers, when they are engaged and deployed, are there to react and respond to the decisions of the commander in chief and, if they are in a conflict situation, to respond to it."
European officials say that under any peace settlement, Ukraine's first line of defence against any future Russian attack would be its own army.European officials say that under any peace settlement, Ukraine's first line of defence against any future Russian attack would be its own army.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said a European force in Ukraine would risk a "direct clash between Russia and Nato", state-owned news agency Tass reports.Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said a European force in Ukraine would risk a "direct clash between Russia and Nato", state-owned news agency Tass reports.
"London and Paris continue to nurture the idea of a military intervention into Ukraine. All of that is being cloaked under [the guise of] a certain peacekeeping mission," Zakharova said."London and Paris continue to nurture the idea of a military intervention into Ukraine. All of that is being cloaked under [the guise of] a certain peacekeeping mission," Zakharova said.
She added Russia was "categorically against such a scenario".She added Russia was "categorically against such a scenario".