PA Media/dpa
London
The prime minister and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed a proposal for Western peacekeepers to monitor a future ceasefire, but Starmer said his current focus was on ensuring Kiev’s forces were in the “strongest possible position” on the battlefield.
Starmer’s first visit to Kiev since taking office coincided with a drone attack by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces on the Ukrainian capital.
The prime minister is understood to have heard sirens warning Kiev’s citizens of the air raid as he met with Zelensky.
“Let’s be clear, we all want this war to end, no one wants that more than Ukrainians, but right now Putin shows no sign of wanting peace,” Starmer said.
The air raid on Kiev while he was visiting was “a reminder of the daily attacks and the resolve of the Ukrainian people in the face of it,” the prime minister said. In response to the apparent message the Russian attack had sent, Zelensky said: “We will say hello to them, too.” French President Emmanuel Macron has been leading calls for NATO allies to deploy troops to Ukraine to safeguard any peace deal.
Zelensky said it was “a bit too early to talk about details.” Starmer said: “We will work with you and all our allies for steps that would be robust enough to guarantee Ukraine’s security, to guarantee any possible peace and deter any future aggression.” He said “those conversations will continue for many months ahead,” adding: “We will play our part when it comes to guaranteeing Ukraine’s security but we must never lose sight of the absolute need for Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position as we go into 2025.”
