Donald Trump and European leaders want the “same thing” for Ukraine , Sir Keir Starmer insisted as precarious peace talks surrounding a US-led plan to end the war with Russia continue.
The Prime Minister said there were a “number of issues still to be resolved” but dismissed suggestions his optimism had been frayed ahead of chairing a call with allies in the coalition of the willing on Thursday.
The latest draft draft proposals for Ukraine have been presented to the US President, including plans surrounding territorial concessions Kyiv may be prepared to make, German Chancellor Friedrich said on Wednesday.
But he highlighted territorial issues were "a question that must be answered primarily by the Ukrainian president, and the Ukrainian people” and this had been “made clear” to Mr Trump.
Asked during a visit to Norfolk whether there was a chance of progress being made into the weekend, or if his hopes had been “worn down”, Sir Keir said: “No, we do need to make progress.
“And what President Trump wants, what Ukraine wants, what Europeans want is the same thing, which is a just and lasting peace in Ukraine after the nearly four-year aggression from Putin and Russia. So we’re working towards that aim.
“Obviously there are a number of issues still to be resolved, but I’m very clear in my mind that we support Ukraine in this fight, not of their making.
“They’ve paid a very heavy price. If there is to be a ceasefire and I hope there is, the Ukrainians want that above all else, it must be just and it must be lasting.”
It comes after Sir Keir, French President Emmanuel Macron and Mr Merz spoke to Mr Trump on Wednesday as the US relationship with Europe faces severe strain.
The US president said they had discussed proposals to end the war in “pretty strong terms”, and that European leaders would like a meeting this weekend with both the US and Ukraine, adding that he thought Mr Zelensky “has to be realistic” about the war.
“We’ll make a determination depending on what they come back with,” Mr Trump told reporters during a question-and-answer session at the White House.
Downing Street said all the leaders had agreed it was a “critical moment” for the future of Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic security, adding: “Intensive work on the peace plan is continuing and will continue in the coming days.”
The Prime Minister will co-chair a call with Mr Zelensky, Mr Macron, Mr Merz and leaders and officials from around 30 other nations later, during which they will discuss “the latest on the US-led peace talks”.
The UK and French-led group of countries, known as the coalition of the willing, has pledged to support Ukraine and deter Russia in the event of a ceasefire.
Planning for a potential peacekeeping force has been “detailed” and included reconnaissance missions to Ukraine to determine “what units we might deploy, how and what their roles might be,” a No 10 spokesman said.
“The Prime Minister has been clear that we’re ready to put troops on the ground following the end of hostilities,” he told journalists on Thursday.
Meanwhile, progress has been made in behind-the-scenes meetings between national security advisers including the UK’s Jonathan Powell, according to British officials.
Mr Zelensky, who reiterated his opposition to ceding land and resisted US pressure for concessions to Russia earlier this week, said his team was due to hand its latest peace proposals to American negotiators on Wednesday.
Ukraine’s European allies are supporting his efforts to ensure that any settlement is fair and deters future attacks from Moscow, as well as accommodating the continent’s defence interests.
Mr Trump has been critical of Ukraine’s European allies, denigrating them as “weak” leaders of “decaying” nations failing to “produce” anything as “the war just keeps going on and on”.
The US national security strategy, published earlier this month, said “the Trump Administration finds itself at odds with European officials who hold unrealistic expectations for the war perched in unstable minority governments, many of which trample on basic principles of democracy to suppress opposition”.
Mr Zelensky said Ukraine would hold talks with the US on plans for post-war reconstruction and economic development.
