'We are at a critical stage in the push for peace...if there is to be a ceasefire, it needs to be a just and lasting one'

VOLODYMYR Zelensky warned Ukraine “can’t manage” without European and American support, amid crisis talks in Downing Street yesterday.

- BY STEPH SPYRO Deputy Political Editor

If no further aid is given, Kyiv is forecast to run out of money as soon as March or April.

Ukraine’s president joined Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for negotiations on the peace process after Donald Trump ramped up his criticism of Mr Zelensky.

The US president accused him of having failed to read the latest peace proposals, saying he was “a little disappointed” in Ukraine’s leader, but insisting Russian despot Vladimir Putin was “fine with it”.

Sir Keir said any peace deal would need to have “hard-edged” security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent Putin from simply restarting the war.

He added: “We are at a critical stage in the push for peace. The principles remain the same: we stand with Ukraine, and if there is to be a ceasefire, it needs to be a just and lasting ceasefire.” Mr Zelensky said: “A lot of what we have to discuss are things that are very important for unity between Europe and Ukraine, and also unity between Europe and Ukraine and the United States.