UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer vows full UK support for Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelensky rejects giving up land to Russia during tense peace talks.
As reported by The Independent, Keir Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s “unwavering support” for Ukraine in response to President Zelensky’s firm refusal of Donald Trump’s proposal to cede land to Russia as part of peace talks.
Next Friday, President Trump will meet Russian President Putin in Alaska to begin talks aimed at ending the Ukraine war, including possible territory swaps.
President Zelensky firmly rejected calls to give land to Russia or reward its actions, saying, Ukraine “will not give Russia any awards for what it has done.”
Keir Starmer’s stance on the Ukraine crisis after talking to Zelensky
During a telephonic conversation with the Ukrainian leader on Saturday morning, Sir Keir reaffirmed “his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people.”
A Downing Street spokesperson stated,
“Both leaders welcomed President Trump’s desire to bring this barbaric war to an end and agreed that we must keep up the pressure on Putin to end his illegal war.”
They added,
“The prime minister ended the call by reiterating his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people.”
Following the call, President Zelensky said both leaders “shared the same view” on the risks involved in discussing “the impossible.”
What did Zelensky say about giving up Ukrainian land?
President Zelensky responded firmly on Saturday, saying Ukraine would break its constitution by ceding territory.
He added that “Ukrainians will not give their land to occupiers,” warning that peace agreements without Kyiv’s involvement are doomed to fail.
Mr Zelensky warned the international community that any deal made without Ukraine’s involvement would collapse.
He stated,
“Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work.”
What will the UK-US meeting mean for the Ukraine peace talks?
On Saturday, Britain will host a meeting of national security advisers from the US, Ukraine, and European countries.
At Chevening on Saturday, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy will host talks to “discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace.”
The meeting was arranged by the US and will be co-hosted by Vice President JD Vance, who is currently staying at Chevening in Kent at the start of his UK visit.
What will Trump and Putin discuss in their Alaska summit?
The Kremlin confirmed that Presidents Putin and Biden will meet in Alaska next week to explore options for a long-term peace resolution.
At the upcoming talks, Mr Putin will likely demand that Ukraine cede control of Crimea and two eastern territories.
During a White House briefing, President Trump said any deal could involve “some swapping of territories,” adding,
“We’re going to get some back. We’re going to get some switched. There will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both.”
What did JD Vance say about Keir Starmer’s Palestine recognition plan?
JD Vance slammed Keir Starmer’s plan to recognise Palestine during talks with David Lammy in Kent, ahead of his family holiday in the Cotswolds.
He said,
“We have no plans to recognise the Palestinian state. I don’t know what it would mean to really recognise a Palestinian state given the lack of functional government there.”
Mr Vance said both nations aimed to resolve the Gaza crisis but “may have some disagreements about how exactly to accomplish that goal, and we’ll talk about that today.”
Referring to Britain and Mr Lammy, he stated,
“We love this country. Just on a personal note, I have to say that I really have become a good friend, and David has become a good friend of mine, and so it’s great to spend some time here with him… you’ve been a very, very gracious host to me and the whole family.”
Keir Starmer’s views on Israel’s plan to take over Gaza
Referring to Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza, Keir Starmer said,
“This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed. Every day, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, and hostages taken by Hamas are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions.”
He added,
“What we need is a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution. Hamas can play no part in the future of Gaza and must leave as well as disarm. Our message is clear: a diplomatic solution is possible, but both parties must step away from the path of destruction.”
What did Sir Ed Davey say about Israel’s Gaza plan?
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey stated that the plans were “utterly abhorrent” and “it’s increasingly clear [Netanyahu’s] goal is ethnic cleansing.”
He said,
“This plan will only serve to wreak more devastation on the lives of millions of Gazans-whose homes and communities have already been destroyed – while endangering the lives of those hostages still held by Hamas.”
Mr Davey added,
“Rather than sitting on its hands and issuing strongly worded statements, the UK government needs to take decisive action. Keir Starmer needs to stop the export of all UK arms to Israel – today – and sanction Netanyahu and his cabinet.”