KEIR Starmer spoke to Donald Trump ahead of the US president’s crunch talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
The Prime Minister told Trump that Ukraine must be put in the “strongest possible position” in order to secure a “just and lasting peace” in the war with Russia.
Trump and his Russian counterpart are due to speak on Tuesday about the US-Ukraine plan for a 30-day ceasefire.
Following a call between Starmer and Trump on Monday night, the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister updated the president on his coalition of the willing call with international leaders that took place on Saturday.
“He reiterated that all must work together to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to secure a just and lasting peace.”
Trump is expected to speak to Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, as the US president continues his attempts to broker peace in Ukraine.
The call, announced by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, comes as Putin continues to resist an American-backed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.
Although Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accepted the proposed unconditional ceasefire, the Russian president has said Ukraine must agree to give up its ambitions of joining Nato and cede territory to Russia before any pause in hostilities.
The US president said Washington and Moscow have already begun discussing “dividing up certain assets” between Ukraine and Russia as part of a deal to end the conflict, which could include Putin being handed land and power plants by Kyiv.
Such a move would cause unease in Europe, being seen as a reward for Russia’s invasion of its neighbour.
Asked if the UK would be prepared to accept Russia being handed sovereignty over the Crimean Peninsula, which it annexed in 2014, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson said: “We’ve always been clear that how, and on what terms, this war comes to an end can only be decided by negotiations with Ukraine at the heart of them.”
The call between Starmer and Trump comes after the Prime Minister said more than 30 countries are ready to enforce a peace deal in Ukraine as part of the "coalition of the willing”.
A “significant number” of countries will provide troops on the ground, the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson told reporters, while others are ready to contribute logistics and background support.
Details about those who have volunteered to join the “coalition of the willing” came to light after Starmer hosted a weekend phone call with international leaders.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson told reporters on Monday: “The Prime Minister said over the weekend, there’s going to be different capabilities from different countries, but these are now the operational discussions that are oingoing in relation to what the coalition of the willing will be able to provide.
“We’re expecting more than 30 countries to be involved.
“Obviously the contribution capabilities will vary, but this will be a significant force, with a significant number of countries providing troops and a larger group contributing in other ways.”
