Putin Warned Of Further Sanctions
BBC News
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Putin Warned Of Further Sanctions
BBC News
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Europe and the US are "calling Putin out" to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine
Starmer is speaking alongside Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk at a press conference in Kyiv – watch live at the top of this page
After a meeting with the "coalition of the willing", the leaders held a call with US President Donald Trump to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine from Monday
Earlier, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine's allies must stop sending them weapons before any ceasefire can happen
What chance is there of a ceasefire in Ukraine? Not much, despite the presence of four major European leaders in Kyiv, our security correspondent Frank Gardner writes
As a reminder, the Kremlin rejected US proposals for a 30-day ceasefire in March after Putin set out a number of tough conditions for peace
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Europe and US 'calling Putin out' – Starmer
Edited by Neha Gohil and Rorey Bosotti in London with correspondents Henry Zeffman and Frank Gardner in Kyiv
France's Emmanuel Macron is asked if they have discussed the potential deployment of European troops,
The French president says statements from a Russian spokesperson came ahead of their meeting today.
As a reminder, earlier today Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine’s allies must stop sending weapons to Ukraine before any ceasefire can happen
Macron says there is "unanimity" among "some 20 countries" now. He goes on to say they are waiting for Russia's response to the 30-day ceasefire proposal.
On deployments, he says there were discussions between military leaders and they will continue.
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky is asked about the resumption of military equipment from the US. He says Ukraine has signed a "very good deal" with the US and that Ukraine can count on US businesses to support them.
He also praises Trump for not stopping aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, saying this is important for Ukraine to defend its skies.
He adds Trump did not stop sanctions on Russia, and he continues to count on his support.
Frank Gardner
Security correspondent in Kyiv
Sign up to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face ‘new and massive’ sanctions on your banking and energy sectors, as well as increased military aid to Ukraine.
That’s the message delivered to Russia today by leaders of the UK, France, Germany and Poland as they met Ukraine’s President Zelensky, in a gesture of European unity and solidarity.
After a virtual meeting of the so-called 'coalition of the willing’ – those countries and organisations prepared to ensure Ukraine’s post-war security – the leaders held a phone call with President Trump.
They then held a press conference, where they demand a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire begins on Monday.
"This is Europe stepping up," Keir Starmer said. "All of us are calling Putin out. If he’s serious about peace then he has a chance to show it now."
Russia has so far insisted that – before considering the US-proposed 30-day ceasefire – the West must first halt its military aid to Ukraine, something likely to be an unacceptable precondition.
The key question now is what President Trump does next.
Is he really running out of patience with Putin’s intransigence and will he impose threatened sanctions? Or will he throw the Russian President a lifeline and cut a deal, over the heads of Ukraine and its friends in Europe?
ITV now asks Starmer if he thinks Russia's President Vladimir Putin wants peace and, if not, why does he think sanctions on Russia will work?
"There's only one country that started this illegal conflict and that was Russia and there's only one country that stands between peace and that's Russia," Starmer says.
He says the unity between countries on the matter of an unconditional ceasefire is the "greatest" we've ever had.
Earlier, a German reporter asked Zelensky if he had discussed the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine with Chancellor Merz.
Zelensky says they’ve discussed strengthening Ukraine’s defences.
The media are now asking questions.
One journalist asks how fast members of the so-called 'coalition of the willing' can adopt new sanctions, if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire.
Donald Tusk says the current sanctions are working, adding that "if it weren't for sanctions, the situation would be comparably worse".
"Russia is actively waiting for sanctions to be lifted," he says.
We're now hearing from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who describes it as "symbolic" that the decision to have a ceasefire was made in Kyiv – which has suffered many "bombardments".
Tusk says they will wait for Russia’s reaction, adding that no one will doubt who stands for peace if the ceasefire proposal is ignored by Moscow.
The news conference now moves on to questions from the media.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is now speaking and says, if Russia rejects the ceasefire, they will keep defending Ukraine and continue to increase pressure on Russia.
He adds, almost all members of the EU and the so-called coalition of the willing are determined to impose sanctions if the ceasefire fails.
Earlier, he said he wants to send a message of their "determination" to end the war between Ukraine and Russia "as soon as possible".
Starmer continues speaking at the press conference in Kyiv.
He says the five European leaders in Kyiv are clear. If Putin turns his back on peace, they will respond, including increasing sanctions and spending more to help Ukraine's defence, Starmer says.
He adds the UK wants to help Ukraine look to the future with confidence, aiming to boost its economy with the help of UK experts.
Starmer is now speaking, saying that we stand with Ukraine to get the "just and lasting peace" that it "deserves".
"All of us here, together with the US are calling Putin out," he says.
Starmer adds that, if the Russian leader is "serious about peace", he has the "chance to show it now" by extending the VE Day pause in fighting to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire with negotiations to follow.
"No ifs, not buts," Starmer adds.
Macron says Zelensky agreed to a 30-day ceasefire in Jeddah, and US President Donald Trump repeated his support two days ago.
Macron adds that there is now stronger international backing, and the ceasefire would cover sea, land and air.
He also says that if the ceasefire is broken, major sanctions will be prepared and coordinated between European countries and the US.
France's President Emmanuel Macron says he is "pleased" to stand with the Ukrainian people and their President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He says that today, Ukraine is the "beating heart of Europe" with its efforts to fight for freedom.
Macron continues, saying that the "future of our principles and collective security" are "at stake", adding that that is the reason why he is supporting Ukraine.
We're now hearing from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders who have gathered in Kyiv for peace talks.
Stay with us as we bring you all the key updates.
Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine has just posted on X backing the call for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.
Keith Kellogg retweeted an earlier group photo of European leaders with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
He writes: "A comprehensive (air, land, sea, infrastructure) ceasefire for 30 days will start the process for ending the largest and longest war in Europe since World War II.
" As [President Trump] has repeatedly said, stop the killing now."
Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent
Ukraine has hosted a virtual meeting of the ‘coalition of the willing’, a group of predominantly European nations who want to support Ukraine if a ceasefire with Russia is agreed.
The meeting was hosted from the Presidential Palace in Kyiv, with President Zelensky.
Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Tusk and Friedrich Merz were present in person and other leaders joined by video call.
Those who joined included Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Mark Carney of Canada, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and Mark Rutte, the secretary-general of Nato.
The group agreed to call for a 30-day ceasefire beginning on Monday, originally a US proposal. It was following that meeting that the phone call between President Trump and the leaders present in Kyiv took place. Frank Gardner
Security correspondent in Kyiv
If diplomacy alone could end this war, then the fighting in Ukraine would probably stop tomorrow.
Today brought the leaders of some of Kyiv’s biggest backers in Europe to the Ukrainian capital.
Arriving by train together, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Macron and Chancellor Merz were joined by Poland’s Donald Tusk as they met Ukraine’s President Zelensky.
They then held a virtual meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing – a group of leaders from those countries and organisations prepared to help protect Ukraine’s security once the war ends.
That, in turn, was followed by a phone call to President Trump described as ‘productive’.
The intended message from all this is simple: that Russia must agree to the US-proposed 30-day ceasefire or face further sanctions from a united West.
But, the Kremlin, still basking in the afterglow of yesterday’s well-attended Victory Parade in Moscow, has pre-conditions. It wants all outside military aid to Ukraine to stop first. That’s a non-starter as Ukraine’s allies are not about to abandon this country to further Russian advances.
If anything, today has reaffirmed Western military support for Kyiv.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis shares a photo of himself attending the virtual meeting of the coalition of the willing
As we've been reporting, a virtual meeting of the "coalition of the willing" took place earlier this morning.
Since then, some of the leaders who joined have shared their thoughts on social media. Here are some key comments:
We’re starting to hear reactions from Russia after the meeting of European leaders in Kyiv.
Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and now deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, says: “Macron, Merz, Starmer, and Tusk were supposed to discuss peace in Kyiv. Instead, they are blurting out threats against Russia.”
He questions whether the leaders really think giving Russia a choice between “a truce for the respite” or new sanctions is "smart," and tells them to “shove these peace plans".Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent
Keir Starmer and fellow European leaders have called President Trump from Ukraine to discuss plans for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia from Monday. Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent
Keir Starmer and fellow European leaders have called President Trump from Kyiv as they hold peace talks on the war in Ukraine.
After a virtual meeting of the coalition of the willing, the prime minister, along with Ukrainian President Zelensky, French President Macron, German Chancellor Merz and Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, called Trump to update him on their support for the US proposal.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has released a statement on X reiterating her support for a "full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire".
She says the "Coalition of the willing convened" and the 30-day ceasefire is meant to "pave the way for meaningful peace negotiations".
Von der Leyen warns that if the potential ceasefire is broken, the EU is ready to "impose further biting sanctions".
“Our objective is clear: a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, which is vital for security and stability across our continent," she adds.
As European leaders discuss a ceasefire and possible further sanctions on Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Russia is already "used to sanctions".
“We know what to do to minimise their impact after these sanctions are announced. We have learnt to do this. There is no point in trying to scare us with these sanctions," he says.
He also says some Europeans are irritated that several leaders chose to celebrate Victory Day with Russia.
Yesterday, more than 20 world leaders, including China's Xi Jinping, joined Putin at the ceremony commemorating World War Two.
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