Keir Starmer engaged in discussions with Donald Trump regarding the contentious Ukraine peace proposal today, cautioning that the plan required further refinement. The US President granted Ukraine a brief period to respond to the agreement aimed at resolving the conflict with Russia, but the UK Prime Minister and other global leaders expressed the need for enhancements, particularly concerning the surrender of territory and reduction of Kyiv’s military strength.
Later, Starmer and Trump conversed about the deliberations held among the Coalition of the Willing partners during the G20 summit. They agreed that their teams would collaborate on refining the peace initiative on Sunday and scheduled another discussion. Additionally, the UK Prime Minister updated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the ongoing negotiations, reiterating the UK’s unwavering support.
In a joint statement issued by Starmer and other G7 leaders, excluding the US, it was emphasized that “borders should not be altered through coercion.” The Downing Street spokesperson revealed that during the call with Mr. Trump, discussions revolved around the ongoing talks among the Coalition of the Willing partners at the G20 summit. Both leaders agreed that their teams would work on the 28-point US peace proposal in Geneva the following day.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Starmer are set to communicate again on Sunday. The UK Prime Minister, speaking to reporters in Johannesburg, mentioned anticipations of speaking with the US President in the near future, with a focus on critical discussions in Geneva.
High-level officials from the US and Ukraine are expected to engage in urgent discussions in Switzerland, with the presence of US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The UK’s National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell will also participate in the Geneva talks after departing the G20 summit early, joined by counterparts from France and Germany.
Trump has set a strict deadline of November 27 for Ukraine to respond to the peace plan, coinciding with Thanksgiving in the US, marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The proposed 28-point blueprint to halt Kremlin’s aggression has stirred concerns in Kyiv and European capitals. Zelenskyy expressed the dilemma facing Ukraine between defending its sovereign rights and maintaining crucial US support.
The US plan entails Ukraine ceding territory to Russia, reducing its military capabilities, and halting its progress towards NATO membership, aligning with Moscow’s longstanding demands while offering limited security assurances to Kyiv. Starmer and 12 other European and international leaders articulated their support for the US efforts to foster peace in Ukraine, highlighting the need for further refinement of the draft to ensure sustainable peace. They stressed the importance of not altering borders forcibly and expressed worries about proposed restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces.
The statement, endorsed by the UK, France, Germany, Japan, Canada, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Ireland, EU Commission, and EU Council, also reiterated continued coordination with Ukraine and the US in the coming days. Former British Army commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon criticized the peace plan as impractical, stating that it rewards Putin for aggression without benefiting Ukraine.
Putin cautiously welcomed the US proposal, suggesting it could serve as a foundation for a final peace settlement.
