Ukraine war latest: Putin's ceasefire conditions 'not good enough' says Starmer following Ukraine summit (2025)

By Amanda Akass, political correspondent

While Sir Keir Starmer's coalition of willing world leaders weren't standing literally shoulder to shoulder at this morning's 90-minute meeting, their united presence, and punchy read out afterwards, still sent a powerful message of support to the Ukrainians after another tumultuous week.

The roster of attendees included 26 prime ministers and presidents - largely European, but also including the leaders of Australia, New Zealand, and the PM of Canada, Mark Carney. The group has grown since Starmer and President Macron first set out their plan at Lancaster House two weeks ago.

Few specifics from Starmer

A key goal of the meeting, Starmer explained, was to demonstrate this gathering "political and military momentum". It was clearly important to make a united statement of conviction that the Ukrainians are the "party of peace", willing to sign up to a ceasefire without conditions, and the Russians therefore the de facto party of war/

But what of the "concrete commitments" Starmer had said he wanted to secure from the meeting?

While the PM told journalists this afternoon new commitments had been made, he gave no specific details beyond insisting the coalition would be moving into an "operational military planning" phase, with a meeting of military leaders, already announced, to be held in the UK on Thursday.

He had no detailed answer to Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coateswhen he asked what power any troops deployed as part of the 'coalition of the willing' would actually have to police any deal, arguing that he was willing for UK forces to play a leading role, but that operational capabilities will be discussed on Thursday.

The US absence was striking

Today's messages were directed at both Russia and the US. Starmer insisted Russia would be forced to the table sooner or later - by the increased military support given to the Ukrainians, and through the threat of greater economic sanctions. The long-held hope of seizing frozen Russia assets was also discussed, he said.

And as for his audience in the White House, the PM was demonstrating again that Europe, and its allies, have been listening to his calls to do more to shoulder the burden of defending Ukraine - and themselves.

But his argument that no peace deal can be secure and lasting without American security guarantees is unchanged. Asked by journalists today, he reiterated that all this needs to be done "in conjunction with the United States", but that his team are in daily talks with Washington.

For all the political power assembled online today, the absence of the US is as striking and ever. But despite that, progress continues.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv's allies are interested in a strong Ukrainian army.

Speaking at a news conference in the Ukrainian capital this afternoon, he said he does not know what was discussed in Moscow between US and Russian officials.

He said the question of territory is "complicated" and should be discussed later.

Australia's prime minister Anthony Albanese, who was on Sir Keir Starmer's call, has released a statement following the virtual summit.

He said his country is "always open to considering any new proposal to support Ukraine".

Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates was in the room for us at the prime minister's news conference a short while ago about a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

He says there was "one clear, united message", which is that Sir Keir Starmer and all participants in the virtual meeting this morning "reject Vladimir Putin's 'yes, but' approach to a ceasefire".

"This coalition that stands with President Zelenskyy does not think that is good enough from the Russian leader. They are trying to box in the Russian government and put pressure on them to go further to end this conflict."

Sam goes on to say that there are "bigger unknowns" following the news conference - one of which is the "clear signal" from Starmer that "he absolutely is relying on a US security guarantee in order to bring on board a 'coalition of the willing' who might be able to provide troops to Ukraine".

"But there are many that don't think that that US security guarantee is coming in any substantial way, based on the noises coming out of the US."

That is a "big problem" for the PM, and as is the question about the remit of any potential peacekeeping force "given the limits on what UK and other troops might be able to do", which was the subject of Sam's question to Starmer at the news conference.

"I didn't feel that the prime minister particularly answered the question," he says.

"The problem is the prime minister saying there will be operational discussion on Thursday about what the 'coalition of the willing' could do, but unless you know the remit to which the operational decisions are made, then really it's unclear what happens next."

He explains that if UK troops could not engage with Russian troops for fear of conflict, then "what is the purpose of the coalition?".

Watch Sam's full analysis below...

Ukraine's president has been speaking from Kyiv, having joined the call with world leaders this morning about a potential peacekeeping force.

Watch what he said now on Sky News, in the stream above, and at the link below.

Downing Street has been very cagey about which countries have joined Sir Keir Starmer's 'coalition of the willing', saying it is for individual nations to make announcements.

While the precise commitments from each country remains unclear, No 10 has provided a list of which leaders joined today's call.

Leaders of countries in Europe and around the world joined the call, plus the leaders of NATO and the EU. Here is the full list, in alphabetical order by country:

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Australia);
• Prime Minister Bart De Wever (Belgium);
• Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov (Bulgaria);
• Prime Minister Mark Carney (Canada);
• Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Czechia);
• Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (Denmark);
• Prime Minister Kristen Michal (Estonia);
• President Ursula Von der Leyen (EU Commission);
• President Antonio Costa (EU Council);
• President Alexander Stubb (Finland);
• President Emmanuel Macron (France);
• Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Germany);
• Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (Greece);
• Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir (Iceland);
• Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (Italy);
• Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (Latvia);
• President Gitanas Nausėda (Lithuania);
• Prime Minister Luc Frieden (Luxembourg);
• Secretary general Mark Rutte (NATO);
• Prime Minister Dick Shoof (Netherlands);
• Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (New Zealand);
• Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Norway);
• Deputy prime minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (Poland);
• Prime Minister Luís Montenegro (Portugal);
• President Ilie-Gavril Bolojan (Romania);
• Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (Spain);
• Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (Sweden);
• President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Turkey);
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Ukraine).

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who spoke to European leaders on the call this morning, says "strong pressure" must be applied on Russia until they want peace.

He said on X: "Putin is lying to everyone about the situation on the ground, especially about what’s happening in the Kursk region, where our Ukrainian forces continue their operations.

"Our troops have also stabilised the situation on the front in Donetsk region — specifically Pokrovsk.

"Putin is also lying about how a ceasefire is supposedly too complicated.

"In reality, everything can be controlled, and we have discussed this with the Americans. The truth is, Putin has already dragged out the war for nearly a week after the talks in Jeddah. And he will keep dragging it out."

He concluded the lengthy thread by saying: "Peace is possible. It’s possible when we all work together – for peace, for security guarantees, for ensuring that the aggressor gains nothing from this war."

Sir Keir Starmer's news conference about a peacekeeping force in Ukraine has concluded.

Scroll down to read what he said, and the answers to the questions from journalists.

Stay tuned for analysis from our experts, and the latest updates from Ukraine.

Asked can be done to bring Russia to the table, Sir Keir Starmer said there are "two points of pressure".

The prime minister said:"The first is more military capability for Ukraine and fresh commitments put on the table this morning in that regard."

The second, he said, is the set of sanctions on Russia.

"We want to tighten the sanctions still further. And we discussed this morning how much further we can go, including the question of frozen assets.

"That is a complicated, question, as I think everybody appreciates. So we discussed further sanctions that have got nothing to do with the assets, which we will take forward as a result of this morning's discussion, but also a continuing discussion about, what more can be done on the assets themselves."

It is put to Sir Keir Starmer next that there is a scenario that Putin continues to delay and does not agree to a ceasefire or peace deal, and there is no way to be certain that Donald Trump will side with the West, rather than Russia.

He is asked what the backup plan is, and he replies that the first job is "to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for whatever comes next".

He hopes that will mean negotiations, rather than continued military fighting.

The PM continues: "We are obviously talking to the US every day about what happens next. I am clear in my own mind that President Trump is absolutely committed to the lasting peace that is needed in Ukraine, and everything he is doing is geared towards that end."

He reiterates his view that the UK-US relationship is "the closest" of two allies, and will continue to be so.