Sir Keir Starmer has reaffirmed Britain’s “unwavering support” for Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky fiercely dismissed Donald Trump’s proposal that peace talks could involve giving up territory to Russia.
The Ukrainian leader’s response came ahead of Mr Trump’s scheduled meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday, where the former US president said discussions might include “some swapping of territories”.
Zelensky was unequivocal. Ukraine, he said, “will not give Russia any awards for what it has done” and “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier”.
On Saturday morning, Sir Keir held a phone conversation with Zelensky, repeating “his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people”.
Following their exchange, Zelensky said both leaders “shared the same view” on the dangers of entertaining what he called “the impossible”.
Downing Street confirmed the solidarity. “Both leaders welcomed President Trump’s desire to bring this barbaric war to an end and agreed that we must keep up the pressure on Putin to end his illegal war. The prime minister ended the call by reiterating his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people,” a spokesperson said.
The UK will host an unscheduled gathering of national security advisers from the US, Ukraine, and European allies at Chevening, the official country residence of Foreign Secretary David Lammy, later today.
The meeting, reportedly called at Washington’s request, will be co-hosted by US Vice President JD Vance, who is currently in Kent at the start of his holiday. Discussions will centre on “progress towards securing a just and lasting peace”.
The Kremlin confirmed that Mr Putin will use next week’s Alaska meeting to outline his terms for a settlement, including Ukraine surrendering Crimea and two eastern regions.
Speaking at the White House on Friday, Trump said any resolution might involve “some swapping of territories”, adding: “We’re going to get some back. We’re going to get some switched. There will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both.”
In a firm rebuttal, Zelensky insisted Ukraine would not breach its constitution by relinquishing territory. “Ukrainians will not give their land to occupiers,” he stressed, warning that any peace deal excluding Kyiv would be “dead solutions”.
His message to the global community was blunt: “Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work.”
The political manoeuvring underscores a stark reality, while the push for a diplomatic breakthrough intensifies, Ukraine remains adamant that peace cannot come at the cost of its sovereignty.
