Secretary David Lammy has challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to take part in face-to-face peace talks on Thursday with Ukraine’s President Zelensky. Mr Zelensky said he was ready to hold discussions about ending the war when he visits Turkey, where representatives from all 32 NATO member states are holding an informal meeting.
US President Donald Trump has called on leaders of the two warring nations to sit down together and the plea was echoed by Mr Lammy. The Foreign Secretary said: “This is the time for Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace in Europe, to get serious about a ceasefire, and to get serious about talks.” But Europe’s leaders are “prepared if this is not the moment of seriousness from Putin”, Mr Lammy added.
He was hosting foreign ministers from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland and the EU for a meeting at Lancaster House in central London, after a weekend of diplomacy for Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky has stated his intention to travel to Turkey and wait for Mr Putin. He stated in social media post: “There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally.”
President Trump called on the two leaders to “have the meeting, now!”. He said: “At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the US, will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly.”
However several European leaders indicated last night that Russia must stop its attacks on Ukraine before peace talks could make progress.
“If there is no ceasefire there cannot be talks under fire,” EU commission vice president Kaja Kallas said.
She added: “We want to see that Russia also wants peace.
“It takes two to want peace, it takes only one to want war, and we see that Russia clearly wants war.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Kyiv on Saturday alongside his French, German and Polish counterparts for talks with Ukraine’s leader. The Prime Minister said that European allies “together with the US” are “calling Putin out”, urged him to accept the 30-day truce and pledged to ramp up sanctions further if he “turns his back on peace”.
