Ukraine truce: "Putin will have to come to the table"

UK premier Keir Starmer said the "ball was in Russia's court" and that President Vladimir Putin would "sooner or later" have to "come to the table", after a virtual summit on Saturday to drum up support for a coalition willing to protect any eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.

- Agence France-Presse

LONDON/KYIV: UK premier Keir Starmer said the "ball was in Russia's court" and that President Vladimir Putin would "sooner or later" have to "come to the table", after a virtual summit on Saturday to drum up support for a coalition willing to protect any eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.

The British leader told some 26 fellow leaders as they joined the group call hosted by Downing Street that they should focus on how to strengthen Ukraine, protect any ceasefire and keep up the pressure on Moscow.

While Ukraine had shown it was the "party of peace" by agreeing to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, "Putin is the one trying to delay", he said.

"If Putin is serious about peace, I think it's very simple, he has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire, and the world is watching," he added.