Ukraine said it would support the scaled-back agreement, requiring both countries to hold off on firing each other’s energy infrastructure for 30 days
Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, discussing US President Donald Trump’s progress towards a ceasefire talks with Russia, Downing Street said. Zelensky provided an update on the frontline situation, and Starmer reiterated Britain’s “unwavering support,” according to the statement.
Earlier, citing Starmer’s office, Britain reported that it had welcomed the “progress” Trump had made towards a ceasefire in Ukraine and that negotiations must lead to a “just and lasting peace.” Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to stop attacking Ukrainian energy facilities temporarily but declined to endorse a full 30-day ceasefire Trump hoped would be the first step toward a permanent peace deal.
Ukraine said it would support the scaled-back agreement, requiring both countries to hold off on firing each other’s energy infrastructure for 30 days.
“I think it will be right that we have a conversation with President Trump, and we will know in detail what the Russians offered the Americans or what the Americans offered the Russians,” Zelenskiy told reporters during an online briefing.
Since Russia’s full-scale 2022 invasion, the war has killed or wounded hundreds of thousands of people, displaced millions and reduced entire towns to rubble.
No10 responded very guardedly to the call’s outcome, referring to “the progress President Trump has made towards a ceasefire.” The spokeswoman added, “This process must lead to peace for Ukraine. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to ensure Russia can never relaunch an illegal invasion.”
Trump told Fox News that he wanted to get the war “over with” and suggested that “Russia has the advantage.” The Republican said, “Right now, you have a lot of guns pointing at each other and a ceasefire without going a little bit further would have been tough.” He argued that his push for a ceasefire was part of a larger bid to keep US troops out of conflict. “Look, we’re doing this – there are no Americans involved. There could be if you end up in World War III over this, which is so ridiculous,’ he said. ‘But, you know, strange things happen.”
Zelensky has said he would support American efforts to stop strikes on his country’s energy grid. But the Ukrainian leader said he hoped to speak to Trump to understand what he and the Russian leader discussed.
After a fresh round of Russian attacks last night, Zelensky said, “Today, Putin effectively rejected the proposal for a full ceasefire. It would be right for the world to respond by rejecting any attempts by Putin to prolong the war. Sanctions against Russia. Assistance to Ukraine. Strengthening allies in the free world and working toward security guarantees. And only a real cessation of strikes on civilian infrastructure by Russia, as proof of its willingness to end this war, can bring peace closer.”
Western nations, including the UK, have condemned Russia for attacks on facilities used to generate electricity for Ukraine’s population, though the Kremlin has denied such strikes have taken place.
Ahead of crunch talks between the two presidents, David Lammy signalled that the UK and EU planned to speed up arms shipments to Ukraine before a complete ceasefire. The Foreign Secretary said Kyiv’s European allies intended to ‘put Ukraine in the strongest possible position militarily and economically.
Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey both met Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative on foreign affairs, to discuss Ukraine and Europe’s security. Speaking to Kallas, Healey said the UK and EU recognised the need to ‘maintain our strong support for Ukraine’.
According to the White House, Trump and Putin agreed in their call ‘that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace.
