Starmer Commends Trump's Efforts in Advancing Ukraine Peace Talks

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has praised President Donald Trump's recent efforts, stating they have brought the end of the Ukraine war "closer than ever before." This follows a summit in Alaska between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which concluded without a ceasefire agreement.

Starmer emphasized that any path to peace in Ukraine must involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reaffirmed the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine. He noted that until Russia ceases its "barbaric assault," allies will continue to tighten sanctions on Russia's war machine.

The Alaska summit was anticipated as a significant step toward peace in Ukraine, but no concrete agreements were reached. President Trump described the meeting as "extremely productive," though he acknowledged that "there's no deal until there's a deal."

President Zelensky is scheduled to meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., on Monday to further discussions. Following the Alaska summit, Starmer engaged with Western allies and welcomed the openness of the United States and Europe to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal.

France announced that Starmer would join French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in hosting a video call with Kyiv's allies on Sunday. A Downing Street source indicated that any peace deal would require security agreements, with U.S. involvement being a key component.

After a call with President Trump, President Zelensky called for a lasting peace, "not just another pause between Russian invasions," and stressed the importance of including Kyiv in future discussions. He also anticipated increased pressure and strikes from Russia in the coming days to create more favorable circumstances for talks with global actors.