UK and France to work with Ukraine on peace plan to be presented to US, Starmer says, before major defence summit – live

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to join European, Canadian and Turkish leaders for summit on UkraineStarmer says he does not “trust” Vladimir Putin, saying the Russian president would “come again” if given the chance. Hence the critical need for “security guarantees”, the UK prime minister said.Starmer said he does, on the other hand, trust Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump. He was asked in the BBC interview if Zelenskyy has “done anything wrong” and Starmer said he hadn’t, adding that the Ukrainian president has bravely served his country as a wartime leader since Russia’s full-scale invasion was launched in February 2022. Starmer says this is a real “moment of fragility” in Europe.For me, the components of a lasting peace are a strong Ukraine to fight on, if necessary, to be in a position of strength; to negotiate a European element to security guarantees, and that’s why I’ve been forward-leaning on this about what we would do; and a US backstop.That’s the package, all three parts need to be in place, and that’s what I’m working hard to bring together. Continue reading...

Mar 2, 2025 - 12:50

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UK and France to work with Ukraine on peace plan to be presented to US, Starmer says, before major defence summit – live

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to join European, Canadian and Turkish leaders for summit on Ukraine

Starmer says he does not “trust” Vladimir Putin, saying the Russian president would “come again” if given the chance. Hence the critical need for “security guarantees”, the UK prime minister said.

Starmer said he does, on the other hand, trust Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump. He was asked in the BBC interview if Zelenskyy has “done anything wrong” and Starmer said he hadn’t, adding that the Ukrainian president has bravely served his country as a wartime leader since Russia’s full-scale invasion was launched in February 2022. Starmer says this is a real “moment of fragility” in Europe.

For me, the components of a lasting peace are a strong Ukraine to fight on, if necessary, to be in a position of strength; to negotiate a European element to security guarantees, and that’s why I’ve been forward-leaning on this about what we would do; and a US backstop.

That’s the package, all three parts need to be in place, and that’s what I’m working hard to bring together.