Prime Minister urges caution as US-Russia negotiations on Ukraine conflict loom
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a stark warning to US President Donald Trump about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s trustworthiness, declaring that the Russian leader “cannot be trusted as far as you can throw him” as preparations continue for anticipated peace talks in Alaska.
The warning comes as Trump prepares to meet his Russian counterpart this week to discuss the future of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, with the conflict now in its third year.
Ukraine Exclusion Concerns Mount
Kyiv has expressed concerns about the prospect of being excluded from peace talks as the two superpowers prepare to negotiate Ukraine’s future. President Trump has previously indicated that Ukraine may need to surrender territory to achieve peace.
However, Trump faces mounting pressure from European allies to include Ukrainian leadership and other European capitals in discussions before making any commitments to Putin.
UK Backs Peace Efforts But Demands Security Guarantees
On Monday, Starmer’s official spokesman reaffirmed Britain’s dual approach: supporting both Ukraine and Trump’s peace initiative while maintaining deep skepticism of Moscow’s intentions.
“Never trust President Putin as far as you could throw him, but we obviously will support Ukraine,” the spokesman told reporters. “We will obviously support President Trump and European nations as we enter these negotiations.”
The spokesman emphasized that the UK was ‘not going to leave it to trust’ in negotiations over Ukraine, highlighting Britain’s insistence on concrete security arrangements rather than mere diplomatic promises.
“Any ceasefire cannot just be an opportunity for President Putin to go away, re-arm, restrengthen, and then go again,” the spokesman continued. “So we’re not going to leave it to trust. We’re going to ensure that we’re prepared such that we achieve a ceasefire.”
European ‘Coalition of the Willing’ Takes Shape
Britain has been spearheading a European-led peacekeeping initiative, dubbed the “coalition of the willing,” since March. This proposed force would monitor any future ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Downing Street confirmed that “operational planning continues at a military level” for this coalition, with officials indicating that preparations are nearly complete. The next crucial step, according to the Prime Minister’s spokesman, is “reaching that ceasefire, such that we’re then able to implement the security guarantees.”
European Unity on Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity
European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said they welcome Trump’s work to “stop the killing in Ukraine,” but that the “path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine”.
In a coordinated statement, leaders from Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission declared: “Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities.”
The statement continued: “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.”
Zelensky Rejects Territorial Compromises
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already firmly rejected proposals that would compromise his nation’s territorial integrity, citing constitutional prohibitions against such concessions.
Zelensky characterized Putin’s approach as seeking to “exchange a pause in the war, in the killing, for the legalisation of the occupation of our land – he wants to get territorial spoils for the second time.”
The Ukrainian leader warned against historical repetition: “We will not allow this second attempt to partition Ukraine. Knowing Russia, where there is a second, there will be a third.”
Stakes High for Alaska Discussions
As Trump and Putin prepare for their Alaska meeting, the international community watches closely. The talks represent a potential turning point in the conflict, but European allies are clearly determined to ensure that any agreement serves Ukrainian interests and prevents future Russian aggression.
The success of these negotiations may ultimately depend on whether Trump heeds allied warnings about Putin’s reliability and includes Ukraine meaningfully in shaping its own future.
