UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says there is now a “viable chance” of a ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine, just days before a rare face-to-face meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
The summit, scheduled for Friday, is set to focus on ending the nearly four-year-old conflict. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders will not be present, they held a joint video call with Trump on Wednesday to reinforce their position: Ukraine’s sovereignty is non-negotiable, and borders cannot be redrawn by force.
Speaking ahead of a planned meeting with Zelensky at Downing Street on Thursday morning, Sir Keir underlined that any peace agreement must protect Ukraine’s territorial integrity. “International borders must not be changed by force,” he said, adding that any ceasefire would have to be “lasting” and backed by strong security guarantees.
The meeting with Zelensky is being viewed as a deliberate show of UK solidarity with Kyiv, strategically timed to take place just 24 hours before Trump sits down with Putin.
US Vice-President JD Vance, currently on a private trip to the UK, also joined Wednesday’s call. Speaking later to American troops at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, Vance described Trump’s mission as “bringing peace to Europe once again,” and stressed the deep military and diplomatic ties between Washington and London.
However, Trump’s recent suggestion that there might be “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” has stirred unease in Kyiv and among its allies. Ukraine has repeatedly vowed it will never accept Russian control over territories seized since 2014, including Crimea. Moscow, meanwhile, insists on retaining control over captured areas, barring Ukraine from joining NATO, and limiting the size of Ukraine’s military.
Sir Keir said a coalition of European nations—formed to support Ukraine militarily and economically—already has credible plans to help enforce any peace deal, including the potential deployment of troops if needed. “If Russia breaches an agreement, we are ready to respond—militarily and economically,” he said, adding that increased sanctions could be used to keep pressure on Moscow.
Zelensky, speaking from Berlin after talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, accused Russia of avoiding genuine peace efforts. “Putin cannot fool us,” he said, while praising ongoing US support for Ukraine.
Vance hinted that if Friday’s talks do not lead to a breakthrough, Putin could face “very severe consequences.” He also floated the possibility of a follow-up meeting between himself, Putin, and Zelensky, should both leaders agree.
For now, optimism is cautious. After more than three years of war, Starmer believes the world may be “closer than ever” to a ceasefire—if all sides are willing to commit.
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