Putin to face pressure from 'coalition of the willing' if he rejects Ukraine ceasefire - Starmer
Photo: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Getty Images)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made a statement on a ceasefire in Ukraine. He said that if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to agree, a coalition of countries will intensify pressure, informs The Guardian.
Starmer said that today he held phone talks with colleagues from across Europe, NATO’s secretary general, and leaders of the European Commission, the European Council, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to discuss support for Ukraine.
"We will build up Ukraine’s own defenses and armed forces and be ready to deploy as a ‘coalition of the willing’ in the event of a peace deal to help secure Ukraine on the land, at sea, and in the sky," the British prime minister stated.
He added that if a ceasefire is reached, the parties emphasized the need for strict monitoring measures to detect and prevent any agreement violations. At the same time, there is consensus on increasing pressure on Putin if he refuses to engage in negotiations and halt the fighting.
"We agreed that in the case that President Putin refused to agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, we would need to increase our efforts to strengthen Ukraine, weaken Russia’s war machine, and ratchet up pressure on President Putin to convince him to come to the negotiating table," said Starmer.
The British government leader explained that military aid to Ukraine would be accelerated to achieve this goal. Sanctions on Russia’s revenue streams would also be tightened. Additionally, countries will continue exploring all legal avenues to ensure that Russia pays for the damage inflicted on Ukraine.
"We agreed to continue these discussions as a group in the coming days to ensure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," he concluded.
Earlier, during the same conference, Starmer announced that a meeting of military officials would take place in Britain next week. They will discuss "practical plans" for a possible peace agreement in Ukraine.
