Putin must ‘take action to prove he’s serious’ on ending war

SIR Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky have said there is “strong resolve” for peace in Ukraine ahead of today’s crunch talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

- By Katie Harris Senior Political Correspondent

The Prime Minister and the Ukrainian wartime leader expressed cautious optimism about the prospect of a truce “as long as Putin takes action to prove he is serious” about ending the brutal conflict as they met yesterday.

Sir Keir hosted Mr Zelensky for breakfast in No 10 ahead of the face-to-face meeting between the US president and his Russian counterpart in Alaska.

European leaders are hopeful about the potential for a ceasefire after a joint call with Mr Trump on Wednesday, during which he told them his goal for the summit was to end the fighting.

But there are concerns over Kyiv being excluded from negotiations over its future and being pressured to give up territory.

Mr Trump insisted yesterday he would not make a deal with Putin without Mr Zelensky.