Prime Minister Starmer said Ukraine’s friends and partners would meet to discuss how to strengthen the current proposal and advance “meaningful peace negotiations” in support of President Trump’s peace push.
Ahead of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on world leaders to intensify efforts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine and support the US-proposed peace plan. He stressed that Ukraine is ready for negotiations, while Russia continues its destructive campaign, targeting civilians and critical infrastructure with drones and missiles.
Speaking on the summit margins, Starmer said Ukraine’s friends and partners would meet to discuss how to strengthen the current proposal and advance “meaningful peace negotiations” in support of President Trump’s peace push. “There is only one country around the G20 table not calling for a ceasefire, and one country deploying a barrage of drones and missiles to destroy livelihoods and murder innocent civilians,” he said.
Highlighting the scale of the attacks, Starmer noted that almost 1,000 Russian drones and 54 precision-guided missiles have been deployed against Ukraine in recent days, causing injuries and disrupting essential services. He emphasised that Ukraine has consistently called for peace while Russia has stalled negotiations and continued its “murderous rampage.”
The Prime Minister outlined key steps to strengthen Ukraine’s position and achieve a lasting peace. These include ending reliance on Russian gas to cut off Putin’s finances, supporting Ukraine in restoring its energy infrastructure, and pursuing reparations loans secured against Russian sovereign assets to ensure long-term defence and reconstruction.
“We cannot simply wait for peace, we must strain every sinew to secure it,” Starmer said. He reaffirmed close coordination with both Washington and Kyiv to push for a just and lasting settlement. “No one wants peace more than the Ukrainian people. Not a day has passed where Ukraine hasn’t called for Russia to end its illegal invasion, roll back its tanks, and lay down its guns.”
Starmer’s remarks come as G20 leaders consider diplomatic, economic, and strategic measures to bolster Ukraine’s sovereignty while countering Russia’s ongoing aggression. The Prime Minister urged countries to act decisively, ensuring that both international law and civilian lives are protected.
