British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Vladimir Putin of “standing in the way” of the ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, As the Kremlin chief refused to come to negotiations in Istanbul and meet the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. TASR writes about it, according to the report of The Guardian.
“What happened today is just another proof that it is Putin, who is wiring. It’s Putin who causes the ceasefire. Ukraine has clearly said a few months ago that it will have a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, and we have long been saying that it is Putin who is standing in the way, ”he said.
British Defense Minister John Healey, in turn, said that the Allies of Ukraine now “have to act” and “put pressure on Putin”. He called for further sanctions against Russia. “We have to put the pressure on Putin to bring it to the negotiating table, ” Heeley said after he met his German departmental colleague Boris Pistorius on Thursday in Berlin. “Now is the time to negotiate and end the fighting, ” added.
According to the AFP report, Pistorius said that “Putin was supposed to end the war” and could travel to Istanbul, negotiate and order a ceasefire. He added that in response to Russia’s latest steps he recorded a “change in tone” by US officials. He stressed, however, that it was necessary to wait for what the consequences will be.