UK’s Starmer pushes back on Trump’s Ukraine peace plan

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pushed back against elements of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan for Ukraine, insisting that Kyiv must determine the terms of any settlement with Russia.

Speaking to The Telegraph aboard a Royal Navy aircraft carrier, Starmer said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should not be blamed for the failure to reach a peace agreement, and reiterated that “it is for Ukraine to decide.”

Starmer also rejected any plan that would recognize Crimea as Russian, calling instead for an “unconditional ceasefire” from Moscow.

“We are at an intense stage in the negotiations,” he said. “Ukraine must decide. Russia must come to the table for that unconditional ceasefire.”

Starmer is continuing to advocate for U.S.-backed security guarantees through a “coalition of the willing,” which would involve a Western military presence in Ukraine. However, the UK is reportedly softening its position, now planning to send military trainers rather than combat troops.

Negotiations on a potential agreement are ongoing following a summit in London earlier this week. The U.S. is reportedly drafting the text, with Western allies pushing for changes.

According to The Telegraph, Kyiv has presented a five-point list of demands, which significantly differs from Washington’s seven-point proposal. At the heart of Ukraine’s position is a refusal to recognize Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.