Keir Starmer to hold major Downing Street press conference today after crunch Ukraine talks
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to hold a press conference at Downing Street this afternoon following a crucial meeting with world leaders about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Earlier today, Starmer hosted a video call with up to 25 potential members of the “coalition of the willing”—nations that could participate in a peacekeeping operation in Ukraine. The meeting included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and other key leaders.
Starmer opened the meeting by emphasizing Ukraine’s commitment to peace, noting that Zelensky had agreed to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of delaying tactics, stating, “If Putin is serious about peace, it’s very simple: he has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire.” Starmer warned that the Kremlin’s rejection of a ceasefire proposal from US President Donald Trump demonstrates Putin’s lack of seriousness about ending the war.
The Prime Minister’s press conference, scheduled for 12:30 pm, will follow the virtual meeting. Starmer has been vocal in urging Putin to stop the violence, saying, “My message to the Kremlin could not be clearer: stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, and agree to a ceasefire now. Until then, we will keep working around the clock to deliver peace.”
Despite Starmer’s calls for action, Putin has resisted unconditional ceasefire proposals, insisting that any deal must include Ukraine abandoning its bid to join NATO and ceding control of Russian-occupied territories. Meanwhile, Trump claimed he was “getting pretty good vibes” from Russia regarding the ceasefire and said he had asked Moscow to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers reportedly surrounded in Russia’s Kursk region. Ukraine has denied these claims, stating that its troops are not encircled.
During today’s call, leaders discussed the aid they could provide to enforce peace in Ukraine. However, the participation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni remains uncertain. An MP from her Brothers of Italy party stated that it is “too early” to talk about sending peacekeepers, emphasizing that any deployment would require a UN mandate—something Russia, as a permanent Security Council member, could veto.
The meeting follows a week of intense diplomatic efforts, including US officials traveling to Moscow to push for a ceasefire. G7 foreign ministers have also reaffirmed their support for Ukrainian sovereignty and called for an unconditional ceasefire. However, their joint statement stopped short of explicitly condemning Russia’s invasion or attributing acts of aggression to Moscow.
As the international community continues to grapple with the conflict, Starmer’s press conference will likely address the next steps in the peacekeeping efforts and the challenges of securing a lasting ceasefire. The situation remains precarious, with both sides entrenched in their positions and the risk of further escalation looming.
