Further urgent talks are taking place
The Australian Prime Minister has made a promise about Ukraine to Sir Keir Starmer – while Donald Trump is threatening new sanctions to secure a ceasefire.
World leaders are continuing to discuss plans to potentially end Russia’s war in Ukraine, following uncertainty over the United States’ relationship with the two countries.
Emergency summits have been held across Europe this week, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky meeting leaders in London and Brussels in recent days, following the disastrous meeting with Mr Trump on February 28.
The US president says he wants to see the war ‘finished’ as soon as possible, and on Friday (March 7) threatened new sanctions against Russia.
But Mr Trump also claimed it was more difficult to deal with Kyiv than the Kremlin, in another round of comments which sparked unease in Europe.
Britain and France have been seeking to build a coalition of nations willing to defend a peace agreement in Ukraine.
Sir Keir Starmer has today (Saturday) welcomed a commitment from Australia to ‘consider contributing to a coalition of the willing for Ukraine’, Downing Street says.
The Prime Minister had a call with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese earlier today, in the latest of a series of conversations Sir Keir has had with world leaders on Ukraine.
A readout of the conversation from a Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister began by expressing his support for all Australians affected by the cyclone and paid tribute to the strength of the partnership between the two countries.
“He welcomed Prime Minister Albanese’s commitment to consider contributing to a coalition of the willing for Ukraine and looked forward to the chiefs of defence meeting in Paris on Tuesday.
“The Prime Minister also reiterated the UK’s commitment to the AUKUS programme. The leaders agreed to stay in touch.”
Officials from about 20 largely European and Commonwealth countries took part in the talks about the peacekeeping coalition earlier this week.
The phone call with the Australian leader comes after Sir Keir spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron to ‘compare notes’ on their work towards a peace deal.
On Thursday, the EU moved to free up billions of euros for security as the bloc grapples with the prospect of the US reducing assistance for Europe.
In a separate call with the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the leaders of Canada, Turkey, Norway and Iceland, Sir Keir had described the EU’s move as a ‘historic step forward’.
Talks between the US and Ukraine in search of a deal are expected in Saudi Arabia.
On Friday, US president Donald Trump suggested that Kyiv was more difficult to deal with than the Kremlin, and said he wanted to get the war ‘finished’ before committing to security guarantees.
He had earlier said that he was ‘strongly considering’ sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a final peace deal is reached, given Moscow was ‘absolutely pounding’ Ukraine.
In a post on TruthSocial, his own social media network, Mr Trump said: “Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED.
“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!”
