PM Urges Russia to Agree to Ceasefire as He Rallies Support for Ukraine
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has urged Russia not to delay a ceasefire agreement, accusing Vladimir Putin of "playing games" by stalling negotiations.
On Saturday, the Prime Minister will host a virtual meeting with 25 leaders from the EU, NATO, and other allied nations to push for stronger commitments in support of Ukraine amid what he describes as Russia’s "delaying tactics."
Ahead of the summit, Starmer criticized Putin for lacking genuine interest in peace, dismissing the Russian president’s apparent disregard for Donald Trump’s ceasefire proposal. He called on the "coalition of the willing"—nations committed to a future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine—to exert maximum economic pressure on Moscow to force serious negotiations.
On Thursday, Putin claimed he supported the "idea" of a ceasefire but insisted it must be on Russia’s terms. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, visited Moscow this week, and a phone call between Trump and Putin is expected soon.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Friday of stalling ceasefire talks to gain strategic advantages on the battlefield. His comments followed a Russian missile strike on a residential area in his hometown, Kryvyi Rih.
Putin has asserted that Russian forces are advancing across almost the entire front line, claiming that thousands of Ukrainian troops are encircled within Russia’s Kursk region. In response, Starmer warned:
"We cannot allow President Putin to manipulate President Trump’s ceasefire proposal. The Kremlin’s outright dismissal of the deal shows that Putin is not serious about peace.
"If Russia truly wants to negotiate, we must be prepared to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it leads to lasting peace. If not, we must redouble our efforts to escalate economic pressure on Russia to bring an end to this war.
"Putin is deliberately stalling, insisting on extensive studies before agreeing to a ceasefire, but what the world needs now is action—not excuses, empty words, or unnecessary conditions.
"My message to the Kremlin is clear: stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire now. Until then, we will continue working tirelessly to secure peace."
Macron Demands an End to Atrocities
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed Starmer’s concerns during a conversation with him on Friday, calling on Russia to accept the U.S.-Ukrainian ceasefire proposal.
"Russia must now accept the 30-day ceasefire proposal. The aggression against Ukraine must end. The atrocities and the delaying tactics must stop."
On Saturday morning, around 25 countries—including European partners, the EU Commission, NATO, Canada, Ukraine, Australia, and New Zealand—will participate in the virtual summit. Each nation will outline its contributions to the "coalition of the willing," ahead of next week’s military planning session.
Military Strategy and Ceasefire Monitoring
Military leaders, including Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff, will discuss potential security arrangements, peacekeeping mechanisms, and strategies for monitoring any future ceasefire in Ukraine. They will also deliberate on setting up a "tripwire" to respond to any ceasefire violations.
Ukraine Denies Russian Encirclement Claims
On Friday, Zelensky accused Putin of fabricating battlefield reports. The Russian president claimed to have encircled thousands of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, urging them to "surrender or die." Trump referenced the alleged encirclement on his Truth Social platform, warning of a potential massacre comparable to World War II.
Putin responded, stating that if Ukrainian troops surrendered, they would be treated in accordance with international law. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, issued a stark warning, saying:
"If they refuse to lay down their arms, they will all be methodically and mercilessly destroyed."
Ukraine’s military dismissed these claims, stating:
"Reports of the alleged ‘encirclement’ of Ukrainian units in the Kursk region are false, fabricated by Russia for political manipulation."
Ukraine’s forces, estimated at 10,000 strong, have been withdrawing from their base in Russia’s southern Kursk region, which they seized in a surprise offensive last August. Kyiv had hoped to use the captured territory as leverage in negotiations, but as Russia deployed 60,000 troops to the area, maintaining control became unsustainable.
The outcome of Saturday’s summit and subsequent military planning will determine how the international community responds to Russia’s actions and whether a credible ceasefire deal can be enforced.
Comments
Post a Comment