Starmer tells world leaders they must gear up to defend any Ukraine peace deal themselves

By Reuters 15 March 2025, 12:36 pm 9 Edit

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer gestures during a Q&A session after delivering a speech on plans to reform the civil service, during a visit to Reckitt Benckiser Health Care UK Ltd in Kingston upon Hull, England, March 13, 2025. (Oli Scarff/Pool Photo via AP)

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer tells a virtual meeting of about 25 world leaders that they had to be prepared to defend any Ukraine peace deal themselves, urging them to keep up pressure on Russia.

“If [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is serious about peace, it’s very simple, he has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire,” Starmer tells the video call of leaders from nations, including from Europe, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

“We have to keep pushing ahead, pushing forward, and preparing for peace and a peace that will be secure and that will last.”