UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Downing Street on Thursday morning, ahead of a significant meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week.
As Europe anticipates the results of Trump’s direct talks with Putin, Starmer emphasized the UK’s readiness to escalate pressure on Russia if needed, following his discussions with Zelensky.
In a separate development, Trump warned of “serious repercussions” for Russia should President Putin reject a ceasefire proposal.
During a Wednesday call with European leaders and Trump, Starmer commended the U.S. president for advancing a “feasible” opportunity to end the ongoing conflict.
Concerns have surfaced regarding Zelensky’s absence from the Trump-Putin meeting scheduled for Friday in Alaska, raising fears that Ukraine’s interests might be overlooked in talks about its future.
Starmer described Friday’s meeting as “crucially significant,” noting to Trump that, despite over three years of conflict, a viable resolution had previously seemed out of reach. “Thanks to the president’s efforts, we now have a real opportunity for a ceasefire,” he said.
Starmer also signaled that additional sanctions could be imposed on Russia if it fails to engage constructively, with the UK already preparing further measures targeting Moscow’s economy. “We are prepared to bolster these efforts, including plans for a reassurance force to be deployed once fighting stops,” he told allies, stressing the UK’s readiness to intensify economic pressure on Russia if necessary.
Both Starmer and European leaders have consistently stressed that Ukraine must be included in discussions about its future, amid concerns that the country is being sidelined.
When asked if he deliberately excluded Zelensky from the Alaska meeting, Trump denied the claim, saying, “Quite the opposite.” He added that a follow-up meeting with Zelensky could occur, describing a recent call with the Ukrainian leader and European allies as “very friendly” and rating it highly.
Trump hinted that a ceasefire might involve territorial “adjustments,” with reports suggesting Putin may demand Ukraine cede parts of the Donbas region still under its control. However, Zelensky has firmly rejected any proposal that would violate Ukraine’s territorial integrity, which is protected by its constitution.
A joint statement from the Coalition of the Willing, co-led by Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, declared that “international borders must not be altered by force.” It further urged stronger sanctions and economic measures against Russia’s war economy if Moscow rejects a ceasefire at the Alaska talks.
The Coalition of the Willing, a European initiative, is focused on deploying a peacekeeping force to Ukraine should a truce be achieved.
