Sir Keir Starmer is set to emphasize the importance of Ukraine’s sovereignty in his upcoming talks with Donald Trump next week, according to a call he had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In the call on Saturday, the UK Prime Minister reaffirmed the country’s “ironclad support” for Kyiv. This conversation marked their second exchange in just four days, following President Trump’s decision to reopen relations with Russia and seek a resolution to the war in Ukraine.
Monday will mark the third anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that this would be commemorated with additional sanctions on Russia.
On Saturday, around 2,000 individuals took part in a march to the Russian embassy in West London to show support for Ukraine as the anniversary approaches.
Downing Street confirmed that during the call, the Prime Minister also emphasized that “Ukraine must be at the heart of any negotiations to end the war.” He reassured Zelensky that the UK remains committed to securing a “just and enduring peace to bring an end to Russia’s illegal war.”
Elaborating on the phone call, Downing Street shared that Sir Keir and Zelensky “agreed that this was a significant moment for the future of Ukraine and European security at large.” Sir Keir also underlined that “safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty was essential to deter future aggression from Russia.”
The UK Prime Minister added that he would continue these crucial discussions in the coming days and weeks, including with Trump during his visit to Washington DC next week.
Zelensky called the conversation with Sir Keir “productive,” and mentioned they coordinated “our military cooperation, joint steps, and engagements for the coming week, which will be very active.”
In a post on X, Zelensky also expressed his gratitude, stating, “The UK and its people are among Ukraine’s biggest supporters, and we deeply appreciate this.”
Sir Keir agreed with Trump’s stance that European nations must take greater responsibility for their security and increase defense spending.
“We have talked about this for long enough. Now it is time for action,” he wrote. Sir Keir also acknowledged Trump’s willingness to explore a potential peace deal, adding, “Every time I have spoken with him, I am struck by his commitment to peace.”
The UK Prime Minister further noted that Ukraine should have a voice in negotiations and that it requires robust security guarantees. He emphasized, “I believe America must be part of that guarantee.”
In a separate conversation on Saturday, Sir Keir spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, where they agreed that Europe “must step up for the good of collective European security,” according to Downing Street.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
The UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, reiterated that additional sanctions on Russia would further undermine President Putin’s “military machine.”
He confirmed that he would announce the largest package of sanctions against Russia since the early days of the war, ahead of Monday’s anniversary. Lammy added that the UK would continue collaborating with the US and Europe to secure a “sustainable, just peace.”
Sir Keir’s meeting with Trump on Thursday in Washington DC follows a week filled with diplomatic summits and calls as European leaders rushed to understand how to approach Trump’s unexpected shift in relations with Russia.
Ahead of the visits to the White House by both Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump commented that the pair “haven’t done anything” to resolve the war in Ukraine. He also questioned the importance of Zelensky in peace talks, stating that the Ukrainian president had “no cards” in negotiations.
However, UK Defence Secretary John Healey wrote that any talks about Ukraine cannot proceed without Ukraine itself. He emphasized that while everyone desires an end to the fighting, “an insecure peace risks more war,” and expressed pride in the UK’s leadership and unity on the issue.
Last Monday, European leaders gathered for a hastily arranged summit in Paris, just a day before US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, amidst concerns that Ukraine and Europe could be sidelined in peace discussions.
On Tuesday, Trump referred to Zelensky as a “dictator,” accusing him of initiating the war despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In response, Zelensky criticized the US president for “living in a disinformation space” created by Russia.
On Saturday, protesters took to the streets of London in response to the US stance on Ukraine, marching from the Ukrainian embassy to the Russian embassy.
Among the demonstrators was 93-year-old Margaret Owen, who accused Trump of “appeasement” and drew parallels to the Munich Agreement before World War II.
“It’s outrageous. We can’t let the world be dictated to by these two impossible people,” she said, referring to Trump and Putin.
Emily Thornberry, chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, also participated in the protest. She called for a less confrontational approach, saying, “We want to influence the US president and we agree there must be peace.
Why shout at him? You’d get a short-term buzz from shouting at Trump, but if you want to influence him, let’s try and influence him.”
She further stressed that Ukraine must be involved in the negotiations, stating, “You can’t decide the future of Ukraine without Ukraine there and you can’t just capitulate to Putin.”
Ukrainian student Oleksandra Udovenko, originally from Kyiv, expressed her support for her country, stating, “I’m here to protect my country’s interests, my country’s independence, and my country’s choice and my country’s right to be independent of any empire in this world.”
