In opening remarks to the “coalition of the willing,” Starmer said the past week – in which Kyiv agreed to a US-backed ceasefire proposal while Putin prevaricated – “has shown once again that Ukraine is the party of peace.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is taking part in Saturday’s summit, “has agreed to and committed to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire,” Starmer said, while “Putin is the one trying to delay.” “If Putin is serious about peace, it’s very simple: He has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire,” said Starmer. “The world is watching. My feeling is that sooner or later he’s going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussion.”

The “coalition of the willing,” a group of who have pledged to help defend Ukraine from Russian aggression in the face of dwindling and uncertain support from Washington, met in London two weeks ago and reconvened Saturday for a virtual meeting. After Kyiv this week accepted the terms of a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine – endorsed by US President Donald Trump – Moscow’s response was ambiguous, with Putin saying that “we agree with the proposal” but also that the deal “wasn’t complete.”

Ahead of Saturday’s virtual summit, Starmer said Putin cannot be allowed to “play games” with Trump’s deal. “The Kremlin’s complete disregard for President Trump’s ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace,” he said.

Starmer is expected to press European and NATO allies during Saturday’s talks to “ratchet up economic pressure on Russia” and “to force” Putin into negotiations, according to a Downing Street statement. (CNN/Reuters)