United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday reaffirmed his government’s firm stance on Russia, declaring that the United Kingdom will persist in escalating sanctions until President Vladimir Putin halts his military campaign in Ukraine. Stressing that the war cannot be tolerated, Starmer vowed to keep tightening restrictions on Russia’s economy and war apparatus. He stated that every additional sanction is intended to increase the cost of aggression for Moscow until it abandons its military operations. His remarks were delivered only hours after the meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, a development that many Western leaders have described as a possible step toward ending the prolonged conflict.
Starmer characterized the Trump-Putin dialogue as a potential breakthrough, provided Moscow demonstrates a genuine commitment to de-escalation. He commended Trump’s diplomatic efforts, suggesting that the meeting had opened the door to negotiations that may draw global leaders closer to a resolution. According to him, Trump’s initiative has brought the international community nearer than ever before to the possibility of halting Russia’s war in Ukraine. At the same time, he emphasized that continued diplomatic engagement remains essential, particularly involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in direct negotiations. Following a phone call with Trump, Zelenskyy, and several European leaders, Starmer underlined that the global community stands ready to back the next stage of discussions.
The call, according to Downing Street, lasted an hour and followed immediately after the Alaska meeting between Trump and Putin. Besides Starmer, Trump, and Zelenskyy, it also included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish President Karol Nawrocki, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. During this discussion, leaders reiterated their shared objectives and assessed possible paths forward to secure peace. The inclusion of such a wide range of European figures highlighted the collective commitment of the West to Ukraine’s defense and to pressing Russia toward de-escalation.
In a separate joint statement released on Saturday, European leaders once again pledged unwavering support for Ukraine. They underscored that their pressure campaign against Russia will not cease until Moscow demonstrates a concrete willingness to end the war. The leaders welcomed Trump’s briefing on his meeting with Putin and agreed that the logical next step should be direct talks between the Kremlin and Kyiv under broader international oversight. They also indicated readiness to support a possible three-way summit involving Trump, Zelenskyy, and European backing, which could serve as a platform for meaningful negotiations if Russia takes credible steps toward peace.
Earlier in the week, Starmer had hosted President Zelenskyy in London, where both leaders reaffirmed their determination to achieve a just and lasting peace. Zelenskyy used his visit to rally European backing and to firmly reject any settlement that would require Ukraine to cede territory to Russia. Both leaders agreed that the Trump-Putin dialogue might offer an important opening but cautioned that it would only be significant if Russia demonstrated sincerity. They further explored the question of long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, a critical issue in ensuring stability beyond the immediate conflict.
Following these discussions, Zelenskyy described his talks with Starmer as highly productive. He explained that their exchange focused on ways to secure a durable peace if U.S. diplomatic pressure succeeds in forcing Russia to reconsider its aggression. He also revealed that the discussions touched on strategic investment in Ukraine’s growing drone manufacturing sector, which has become an important part of the country’s defense capabilities. His remarks reflected cautious optimism, suggesting that while progress may be possible, it depends largely on Moscow’s willingness to move toward credible negotiations.
