United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Stmerer defended on Saturday, 15, to maintain pressure for Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept a ceasefire in Ukraine. The prime minister promoted a virtual meeting with 25 leaders willing to ensure a possible truce in the conflict.
Stmerer reaffirmed his commitment to support Ukraine in the fight against Russian invasion and ensure the fulfillment of a First Fire, which has been negotiated by the US. Skeptics about any promise of Putin, Europeans have been discussing how to ensure the safety of Ukrainians in the truce scenario, but the Russians have resistance.
Pressure
“We agree to continue pressure on Russia, maintain military aid to Ukraine and continue to restrict the Russian economy, to weaken Putin’s war machine and take it to the negotiating table,” said the prime minister.
Strmer summoned the virtual meeting after claiming that Putin “does not take peace seriously.” Ukraine accepted a US truce proposal, but Russia said it was necessary to discuss the terms of the agreement and required a series of Ukrainian concessions.
“The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it. But there are questions we need to argue, ”said Putin. The answer was interpreted as a way of delaying the ceasefire, without displeasing Donald Trump.
The Saturday meeting brought together leaders from 25 European countries, as well as European Commission, Canada Australia, New Zealand and Ukraine. The idea, according to London is to create a coalition willing to support “just and lasting peace.”
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“My feeling is that sooner or later Putin will have to sit at the table and negotiate,” Stmerer said. “If Putin doesn’t negotiate, we must do everything possible to increase the pressure on Russia, so that it will end this war.”
Macron
Stmerer and French President Emmanuel Macron lead Ukraine security guarantees since Trump has opened direct negotiations with Russia last month. The first conversations, without the participation of the Ukrainians, lit the alert in Europe, concerned with the turn in American foreign policy.
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Under Trump, the US voted with Russia against a UN resolution that condemned the war. The US President repeated Putin’s false allegations about the conflict and even suspending military support and the sharing of American intelligence information with Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodmir Zelenski said he discussed the technical aspects about how ceasefire could be applied. “Our teams continue to work on clear security guarantees, and will be ready soon,” said Zelenski.
Stmerer and Macron, who talked by telephone on the eve of Saturday’s virtual meeting, expressed their willingness to send British and French troops to Ukraine, but it is unclear whether other countries are willing to do the same and, most importantly, if Putin will accept. (With international agencies).
