UK's Starmer: If Putin turns his back on peace, we will respond
Photo: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
After a meeting of the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing in Kyiv, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says that if Russian leader Vladimir Putin does not return to the path of peace in Ukraine, there will be a response that will force Russia to the negotiating table, an RBC-Ukraine correspondent reports.
"So, all of us here together with the US are calling Putin out: if he's serious about peace, then it has a chance to show it now," Starmer said.
He emphasized that it's about a 30-day ceasefire with the immediate start of negotiations, without additional conditions and without delay. If this does not happen, Russia will be forced to negotiate.
He says Putin wants conditions, he organized a military parade instead of a ceasefire.
"If Putin turns his back on peace, we will respond," he said.
Together with President Trump, Europe will step up its assistance to Ukraine's defense capabilities to force Russia to the negotiating table, the British prime minister added.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz informed that the Coalition of the Willing had spoken with the US President both before and after today's meeting.
“We all spoke with the American president before our meeting and immediately after it. We are grateful to the American president for his full support of our initiative and his full involvement in it,” he said.
A ceasefire is possible as early as Monday
At the same press conference, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia must begin this Monday, May 12. Otherwise, if the Kremlin refuses to implement a full and unconditional ceasefire, the country will face new sanctions.
Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have also stated that there must be an unconditional ceasefire, or they will face sanctions.
Macron, for his part, confirmed that a package of sanctions has already been prepared in case of Russia's refusal.
