In a significant diplomatic development, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has held a conversation with US President Donald Trump, resulting in an agreement for their respective teams to collaborate on the American-led peace proposal for Ukraine.
A Constructive Call Between Leaders
The discussion, which Downing Street described as "good and constructive," took place following Sir Keir's participation in the G20 summit in South Africa. During the call, the Prime Minister briefed President Trump on his discussions with members of the Coalition of the Willing on Ukraine. They further agreed to speak again on Sunday.
This high-level contact was preceded by Sir Keir's conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which he reiterated the UK's "steadfast support" for Kyiv. President Zelensky noted that the two leaders "covered many nuances of diplomatic work" in their efforts to find an end to the war with Russia.
Scrutiny of the US Peace Framework
The US-drafted 28-point plan, however, has faced pushback from Sir Keir and other international allies. Key concerns revolve around proposals that would require Kyiv to limit its armed forces, cede territory, and abandon its path to NATO membership.
Earlier, the Prime Minister stated that US, Ukrainian, and European national security advisers (NSAs) are scheduled to meet in Switzerland on Sunday to "go through quite a bit of detail" of the framework. This meeting is seen as crucial for addressing the plan's contentious points.
President Trump, who did not attend the G20 summit in South Africa, had initially suggested he wanted a response from Ukraine by Thursday. However, he has since indicated there is room for negotiation, answering "no" when asked if his proposals were final.
The Path Forward in Geneva
Sir Keir pointed to the inclusion of an "article five" security guarantee – NATO's mutual defence clause – as a key element that fortifies his belief that President Trump is seeking a "just and lasting peace." He described it as "about the strongest guarantee that can be put forward."
In a joint statement issued on Saturday after the Johannesburg G20 summit, Sir Keir and other world leaders characterised the Washington plan, which was drafted secretly with Moscow, as "a basis which will require additional work."
Sir Keir expressed specific concern to reporters about potential caps on Ukraine's military, stating, "We are concerned about that because it's fundamental that Ukraine has to be able to defend itself if there's a ceasefire." He confirmed that allies agreed essential elements for lasting peace are present but that more engagement is needed.
To that end, UK NSA Jonathan Powell is understood to have left the G20 summit early to travel to Switzerland for the Geneva talks. He will be joined by senior US personnel, European NSAs, and Ukrainian representatives to work further on the draft.
President Zelensky, in a video address, assured his nation that Ukrainian representatives in Switzerland "know how to protect Ukrainian national interests" and what is needed to prevent future Russian aggression, adding that "real peace is always based on security and justice."
The revelation of the secretly forged White House plan dominated the G20 meeting. In a separate announcement, Sir Keir confirmed that the UK will host the global gathering in 2027, an opportunity he said would allow Britain "to shape the global agenda once again" and drive economic growth.
