LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to host a virtual meeting with global leaders this Saturday to discuss the evolving situation in Ukraine. This gathering, a follow-up to an initial summit on March 2, aims to push for a 30-day ceasefire from Russia amid ongoing diplomatic efforts. Dubbed the “coalition of the willing,” the meeting will focus on providing military and financial aid to Ukraine and exploring support for possible future peacekeeping missions.
Starmer, in planned remarks shared by his office before the meeting, emphasized the need for readiness to enforce a ceasefire if Russia agrees. He stated, “If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious, and enduring peace. If they don’t, then we need to strain every sinew to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to secure an end to this war.”
The call is expected to include approximately 25 participating countries, European allies, and Ukraine. It will also feature leaders from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, alongside NATO and European Union executives. Notably absent once again is the United States, which has altered its approach since President Donald Trump’s return to office. Tensions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have surfaced, as seen from their recent Oval Office encounter on February 28.
This meeting takes place amid a U.S. initiative advocating a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine backed by Zelenskyy himself. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed provisional support while requiring further clarification on details before agreeing. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed “cautious optimism” regarding Putin’s potential endorsement after meetings with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
Starmer is less hopeful, warning that tangible commitments are necessary as Putin seemingly engages in “pointless games” with Trump’s suggested peace plan. He criticized, “Putin is trying to delay, saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place. But the world needs to see action, not a study, or empty words and pointless conditions.” Starmer argues that Putin’s disregard for Trump’s ceasefire proposal is indicative of an absence of genuine interest in peace.
Alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Starmer has played a pivotal role in building this “coalition of the willing.” Their efforts aim to convince Trump to continue backing Kyiv, which has led some European nations to realize the importance of fortifying their defense capabilities. Macron, who held conversations with Zelenskyy and Starmer after recent U.S.-Ukraine talks in Jeddah, noted that Trump has resumed military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Saturday’s meeting is anticipated to further support Ukraine and strive for a lasting peace. Currently, Ukraine is under considerable military stress in some frontline areas, three years after Russia’s broad invasion. While the truce proposal finds favor from Ukraine, analysts suggest Putin, given recent battlefield gains, may hesitate to expedite a ceasefire. Starmer’s message to Russia remains firm: “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.”
