Starmer hopes for ceasefire in Ukraine by summer

In addition to his hope, the British Prime Minister reiterated his call for US security guarantees for British and other Western forces planning to be deployed in Ukraine to monitor the peace. He also emphasized that the ceasefire in Ukraine must be long-term and acceptable to all parties.

"It’s got to be a ceasefire that is on terms that all parties can accept, including Ukraine, and it’s got to be a lasting ceasefire. What I don’t want to see is a ceasefire that is temporary, because I am as convinced as I can be that that will simply leave Russia with the capability and wherewithal to come again at some future time. They’ve done it before, I’ve no doubt that they will do it again," Starmer said.

Furthermore, he insists that Ukraine must be given the opportunity to determine the terms of any peace agreement with Russia and demands that Moscow agree to an unconditional ceasefire.

"We are at an intense stage in the negotiations. In the end, I’m always mindful of the fact that it is Ukraine that must decide on those issues – it’s not for other people to decide on behalf of Ukraine. It is for Ukraine to decide. And Russia must come to the table for that unconditional ceasefire," said the British Prime Minister.

Kir Starmer also refused to support US plans to officially recognize Crimea as Russian, as reported by the media, allegedly as one of the conditions for a peace agreement.

"That’s not for me to say. That is part of the discussions," he said.

British peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine

As reported by The Telegraph, Keir Starmer continues to insist on providing US security guarantees for the Coalition of the Willing, within which Western troops would be stationed on Ukrainian territory.

However, it was revealed on Thursday that the UK has softened its plans and now intends to send military instructors instead of a large combat contingent. According to The Times, this involves a European contingent of ground troops.

Thus, the West is changing its approach to military assistance to Ukraine and is attempting to push Russia to shift its red lines in order to achieve a peace agreement.

At the same time, the focus of security commitments to Ukraine will be on the restoration and rearmament of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with protection from air and sea attacks.

Negotiations for peace in Ukraine and their outcome

Last week, a meeting of high-ranking officials from the US, Ukraine, France, and the UK took place in Paris. The parties discussed the issue of ending the war in Ukraine.

It was soon revealed that another meeting would take place in London on Wednesday, April 23, where the final position to be handed over to Moscow was expected to be agreed upon. Later, media outlets reported that at this meeting, a peace plan proposed by Trump would be presented, which allegedly included Washington's recognition of Crimea as Russian.

The day before the meeting, it became known that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would not be attending the London meeting. The official reason given was his schedule, but media reports suggested that this was influenced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statement that Ukraine would not recognize Crimea as Russian.

As a result, the meeting in London was canceled, and it was held at a lower level (except for Ukraine). US Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, was also present at the meeting.

Yesterday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the negotiations between Ukraine, the US, and Europe this Wednesday were not easy. Russia, on its part, expected a major scandal.

He also mentioned that after the London meeting, a new document regarding Ukraine was formulated, which Keith Kellogg took to Washington, and the document is now on Trump's desk.

"...I believe that today this format, this document, is on Trump's desk. Anything that contradicts our values or our Constitution cannot be part of any agreement," the president explained.