Keir Starmer and his European counterparts called for an immediate ceasefire from Russian leader Vladimir Putin. They reiterated their commitment to imposing more sanctions on Russia to increase pressure to end the ongoing conflict. The demand was made during a crucial meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, commemorating the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The group, comprising over 30 leaders including Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is gearing up to back Kyiv and oversee any potential peace agreement with Russia. A joint statement by the group’s chairs, including Starmer, expressed unwavering support for Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing the need to protect Europe’s freedom. They emphasized the importance of involving all relevant parties in peace negotiations and cautioned against altering international borders through force.
With the conflict entering its fifth year, the leaders urged Russia to actively participate in discussions and accept a complete ceasefire. They reiterated their determination to intensify economic pressure on Russia through additional sanctions, targeting the Russian Shadow Fleet, oil trading networks, the Russian Military Industrial Complex, and disrupting financial networks.
Highlighting the significant human cost of the conflict, the leaders mentioned Russia’s substantial casualties despite minimal gains on the battlefield. UK Defense Secretary John Healey expressed his aspiration to see the conflict end by 2026, labeling the past four years as a failure for Putin. He emphasized the enduring resilience of Ukrainians and echoed President Zelensky’s vision of achieving peace by 2026.
Starmer reiterated Britain’s steadfast support for Ukraine, commending the nation’s resilience in the face of adversity. He emphasized the need to dispel the notion of Russian victory, pointing out that despite their efforts, Russia only gained a small fraction of Ukrainian territory at great cost. The entrance of No10 was adorned with a wreath in the colors of Ukraine, symbolizing solidarity with the country.
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