London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday US President Donald Trump's efforts "have brought us closer than ever before" to ending the Russia-Ukraine war. In a press statement following the Alaska summit, Starmer expressed optimism about the progress made and emphasized the importance of further talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Starmer highlighted that the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be determined without Zelenskyy's involvement. He reported that he had engaged in discussions earlier in the day with Zelenskyy, Trump, and other EU partners, all of whom showed readiness to support the next steps towards peace.
"This morning, I spoke to President Zelenskyy, President Trump, and other European partners, and we all stand ready to support this next phase," Starmer elaborated. He appreciated the United States' openness to collaborate with Europe in providing robust security guarantees to Ukraine, considering this a crucial development for deterring further Russian aggression.
"I welcome the openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal. This is important progress and will be crucial in deterring Putin from coming back for more," Starmer stated. He reiterated the UK's commitment to maintain sanctions on Russia until it ceases its "assault" on Ukraine, acknowledging the substantial impact these measures have had on the Russian economy.
Trump recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska for a summit, which, while not resulting in a peace deal, marked a significant step in ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict that has persisted since 2022.