Allies of Ukraine need to “open up space for meaningful negotiations”, a Cabinet minister has said as talks with the US, Ukrainian and European officials on Donald Trump’s peace plan are due to take place.
National security adviser Jonathan Powell is to meet US, Ukrainian and European counterparts in Geneva on Sunday, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected to attend for Washington.
Sir Keir Starmer and other leaders have pushed back against the US-drafted plan for Ukraine, raising concerns about proposals to make Kyiv limit its armed forces and give up territory and its path to Nato membership.
They called Washington’s plan drawn up secretly with Moscow “a basis” that requires further work in a joint statement on Saturday after talks at the G20 in South Africa.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander echoed this, telling Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “We have been clear that there are elements of the peace plan that he has proposed that are essential for a just and lasting peace.
“It does require some additional work.”
Ms Alexander said allies of Ukraine need to “find a way to secure that ceasefire and open up space for meaningful negotiations”.
The 28-point plan is said to have been negotiated by Mr Witkoff and Kremlin representative Kirill Dmitriev, with Kyiv and European allies left out of the process.
The Transport Secretary insisted the UK’s voice “does count” with Washington, adding: “Our relationship with the US is one of seeking to influence to facilitate that dialogue with other global leaders.”
The inclusion of an article five security guarantee – Nato’s mutual defence provision under which an attack on one member is an attack on the entire bloc – is seen as “integral and significant” to Washington’s plan, it is understood.
Sir Keir has said this security guarantee and his one-on-one discussions with Mr Trump on Ukraine make it clear to him that the US leader wants a “just and lasting peace”.
The Sunday talks will see national security advisers “go through quite a bit of detail”, the Prime Minister has said.
He and Mr Trump agreed their teams would work together on the president’s peace proposal during a phone call on Saturday, according to Downing Street.
They agreed to talk again on Sunday.
The conversation came after Sir Keir spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reiterated the UK’s “steadfast support” for Kyiv.
Mr Trump, who shunned the G20 summit, initially suggested he wanted a Ukrainian response by Thursday.
But he has since signalled there is some room for negotiation in Geneva, saying “no” when asked whether his proposals are final.
