No Plan B to Ukraine peace deal except war, Starmer warns Putin
Defence Secretary John Healey said the world faced ‘decisive days in the push for peace’ and that work on the coalition was ‘accelerating’
Britain has warned Russia that it must compromise in peace negotiations with Ukraine or face the loss of more soldiers as the war continues.
Amid fears that Vladimir Putin could block a proposed 30-day ceasefire agreed by Kyiv and Washington on Tuesday, Downing Street said there was no Plan B to the process other than a continuation of the conflict.
Keir Starmer is preparing to hold a second UK summit, by telephone, this Saturday to gather countries involved in the coalition of the willing – with the hopes that this will form a multinational peacekeeping force that can be part of the negotiations.
Speaking alongside fellow European defence ministers in Paris on Wednesday, Defence Secretary John Healey said the world faced “decisive days in the push for peace” and that work on the coalition was “accelerating”.
European defence chiefs are expected to hold more discussions in the UK next week to try to build a peacekeeping force for Ukraine.
French defence minister Sébastien Lecornu said 15 countries involved in the coalition were ready to offer support for the “security architecture” in Ukraine under the terms of a peace agreement.
So far only the UK and France – both Nato members – have confirmed they will provide troops for the peacekeeping force, but it is possible that more nations will follow suit over the next week. Others are expected to offer equipment and logistical support.
The i Paper understands that if Moscow accepts the 30-day interim ceasefire offer which is being presented by Donald Trump’s officials in the Russian capital shortly, then that will be in place as soon as possible to allow breathing space for negotiations to begin for a lasting post-war settlement.
It is expected that the peacekeeping troops, if agreed by all sides, would then be deployed before the start of a permanent ceasefire, it is understood.
Starmer weighs up White House trip with Zelensky
Diplomats have been weighing up whether Starmer should go to the White House with Volodymyr Zelensky for the signing of any peace agreement or minerals deal.
While it would associate Starmer more concretely with the success of his diplomacy and the deal, there is a risk that there could be a repeat of last month’s row in the Oval Office, which the UK PM would not want to be associated with.
Diplomats said there was a feeling that after the success of his first trip to Washington, it could not be topped and so why would they risk a failure.
When French president Emmanuel Macron suggested last week that he and Starmer would go, Downing Street downplayed the prospect.
A No 10 insider insisted the premier had spent this week focused on the deal, rather than planning around trips.
A key sticking point is likely to be the make-up of any peacekeeping force should a permanent peace deal be negotiated. Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published on Wednesday that Moscow will avoid compromises that would jeopardise people’s lives.
He reiterated Russia’s stance that it will under no conditions accept the presence of Nato troops in Ukraine, should there be a permanent peace settlement.
Asked whether there was a Plan B if Russia refused to compromise, Starmer’s official spokesman said: “There’s a war that Russia has propagated in Ukraine, and we’ve been supporting Ukraine for the last three years to fight back against Russia.
“We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to bring the war to an end. Now, clearly, it’s welcome that the Americans and Ukrainians have come to an agreement on a ceasefire … but the ball is now in the Russian court.”
Following talks with fellow defence ministers from France, Germany, Poland and Italy in Paris, Healey said: “These are decisive days in the push for peace in Ukraine. The Ukrainians want peace, we all want peace.
“I say to president Putin, ‘over to you then’. Make no mistake – the pressure is on Putin.
“We know our responsibility: we know we have to step up on Ukraine, on defence spending, on European security… We have to work together to strengthen our industrial base
“It’s our job as defence ministers to keep our countries safe – and in the coming weeks you will see us coming together as our security is shared.”
While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Zelensky’s team that they would have to prepare to negotiate on territory, Kyiv said it remained a red line that they would not give up any land taken by Russia since the start of the war.
Separately, Whitehall officials said the UK recognises that Trump is serious when it comes to his idea that a US “backstop” would be in the form of Washington’s economic interests in a minerals deal in Ukraine, first floated by the US President to Starmer in the White House last month.
The Prime Minister is not retreating on his request for those security guarantees to go further, by potentially having US air cover and support for peacekeeping troops, but the Trump minerals backstop is nevertheless being regarded as a serious offer.
