British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet over a proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, as international pressure mounts on Russia to engage in peace talks, reported The Guardian. Speaking after a virtual summit with 29 global leaders, Starmer emphasized that there was a limit to how long Putin could delay negotiations.
The summit, which included French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, resulted in new commitments on both peacekeeping and sanctions against Russia.
Starmer announced that military leaders would meet in London on Thursday to establish robust plans for supporting a peace agreement and ensuring Ukraine’s security.
“So this is the moment: let the guns fall silent, let the barbaric attacks on Ukraine once and for all stop, and agree to a ceasefire now,” Starmer urged.
The meeting followed a week of intensive diplomacy, during which American and Ukrainian officials agreed on a proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which was subsequently presented to Russia. However, the Kremlin has resisted the deal, demanding that Ukraine abandon its ambition of joining NATO and cede certain territories to Russia.
Zelenskyy, speaking from Kyiv, accused Russia of delaying negotiations to strengthen its military position. “I think the delaying of the process is exactly because of what I said. They want to improve their situation on the battlefield,” he stated. Ukraine, he said, had already shown a willingness to consider US-led proposals for a temporary ceasefire that would allow for further peace discussions, as agreed upon during recent talks in Saudi Arabia.
“Today, Putin is the one who doesn’t agree with what [Donald] Trump has proposed,” Zelenskyy said, rejecting Russia’s attempts to impose conditions. “This is a ceasefire for 30 days; it’s not for ever, it’s 30 days, during which all sides have the chance to demonstrate their willingness to end the war.”
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UK’s diplomatic push and security concerns
Writing in The Observer, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Putin had been placed in a difficult position by Ukraine’s acceptance of a ceasefire and the US-led push to end the conflict. “The proposal for a ceasefire is therefore a test. He can’t simply say he is ready to end this war – he has to prove it,” Lammy wrote.
Starmer also acknowledged discussions on seizing Russian assets but admitted it was “a complicated question.”
Even as ceasefire negotiations continue, both Russia and Ukraine launched drone attacks overnight, with each side reporting over 100 enemy drones entering their airspace.
(With inputs from The Guardian)
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