UK urges Putin to agree to Ukraine ceasefire amid ongoing attacks

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Ukraine during a virtual meeting of international allies on Saturday. This is the second such meeting to discuss the conflict, and Starmer emphasized the urgency of the situation.

At the meeting’s conclusion, Starmer urged Putin to commit to a ceasefire immediately if he is "serious about peace," criticizing Russia’s delays in responding to a ceasefire proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump. He also condemned Russia’s continued “barbaric attacks” on Ukraine, stating that these actions are “entirely contrary” to Putin’s professed desire for peace.

Around 25 countries participated in the meeting, including Ukraine, France, Italy, and several other European partners, as well as leaders from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, NATO, and the European Union. Starmer underscored that any potential ceasefire must be accompanied by robust monitoring to prevent violations.

“We cannot afford to just wait for Putin to come to the table,” Starmer said, stressing the need to continue supporting Ukraine with military assistance and financial aid.

The meeting followed a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has supported. Notably, there was no U.S. representative at the meeting, as President Trump’s return to office has led to a shift in the U.S. approach to the conflict. This change became evident following a tense meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy on February 28, 2025.

Though Putin has expressed tentative support for a truce, he has set conditions that need to be clarified before he will commit to any ceasefire. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed “cautious optimism” regarding Putin’s willingness to engage in a ceasefire, following a meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday.

However, Starmer remains skeptical. He has pushed for concrete commitments from Russia and accused Putin of playing "pointless games" with the peace plan.

Alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Starmer has taken a leading role in forming the "coalition of the willing," which aims to convince Trump to maintain support for Ukraine. This coalition has already led to an increased recognition among European nations of the need to bolster their own defense capabilities.

As Ukraine faces continued military pressure along the front lines, with Russian forces gaining ground, it remains to be seen if Putin will agree to the ceasefire proposal, despite Ukraine’s endorsement.

Ongoing Strikes in Ukraine

As discussions on a ceasefire continue, both Russia and Ukraine carried out heavy aerial strikes over the weekend. On Saturday, Ukrainian forces reported that Russia launched a barrage of 178 drones and two ballistic missiles overnight, damaging energy infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions. The attacks caused significant damage, leaving some areas without power.

Meanwhile, Russia's defense ministry confirmed it had downed 126 Ukrainian drones, with some debris causing a fire near a Lukoil refinery in Volgograd. No casualties were reported, but local airports were temporarily closed due to the falling debris.

Both nations appear to be in a continued state of heavy military engagement as they await further developments on the ceasefire discussions.