Keir Starmer arrived in Paris for the latest ‘coalition of the willing’ talks today as he accuses Vladimir Putin of ‘hollow promises’ in ceasefire talks.
The PM is co-hosting the gathering with Emmanuel Macron, after the French president suggested a European peacekeeping force could ‘respond’ if attacked by Russia.
The leaders – joined by Volodymyr Zelensky – will consider the results of defence talks at London’s Northwood military headquarters.
They are also expected to take stock of the situation after Ukraine and Russia agreed to paused hostilities in the Black Sea.
Donald Trump has raised concerns among Western allies by suggesting easing sanctions on Moscow could be part of that move.
No10 said the Prime Minister will tell allies that ‘excellent progress’ was made and Europe is ‘mobilising together in pursuit of peace, but now we must keep up the momentum’.
He will also accuse the Russian president of ‘playing games’ with an agreement for a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea after separate talks between US negotiators and their counterparts in Kyiv and Moscow.
Sir Keir will say: ‘Unlike President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, Putin has shown he’s not a serious player in these peace talks. Playing games with the agreed naval ceasefire in the Black Sea despite good faith participation from all sides – all while continuing to inflict devastating attacks on the Ukrainian people. His promises are hollow.
‘The US is playing a leading role by convening the ceasefire talks, President Zelensky has demonstrated his commitment repeatedly, and Europe is stepping up to play its part to defend Ukraine’s future. Now Putin needs to show he’s willing to play ball.’
Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of breaking the terms of a tentative US-brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure, underscoring the challenges in negotiating a broader peace.
The White House said the idea of the Black Sea deal was to ‘ensure safe navigation’ and ‘eliminate the use of force’ in the sea.
However, the US also appeared to signal an intention to ease sanctions on Russian agricultural goods and improve Putin’s access to maritime insurance, ports and payment systems.
The talks were part of efforts by the administration of President Donald Trump to implement a limited, 30-day ceasefire that Moscow and Kyiv agreed to in principle last week.
That has so far failed to materialise as both sides continue to launch drone and rocket attacks.
Russia’s defence ministry claimed Ukrainian drone attacks hit power facilities in the Bryansk and Kursk regions this week, which Ukraine dismissed as Kremlin disinformation aimed at justifying continued hostilities.
Ukrainian officials have said Moscow is ‘lying’ about observing a ceasefire on energy infrastructure and has carried out eight confirmed hits on power sites.
Mr Zelensky met his French counterpart on Wednesday ahead of a summit of 31 delegations in Paris that will discuss peacekeeping plans for Kyiv.
In televised remarks after the meeting, Mr Macron said: ‘If there was again a generalised aggression against Ukrainian soil, these armies would be under attack and then it’s our usual framework of engagement.
‘Our soldiers, when they are engaged and deployed, are there to react and respond to the decisions of the commander in chief and, if they are in a conflict situation, to respond to it.’
European officials say that under any peace settlement, Ukraine’s first line of defence against any future Russian attack would be its own army.