PM: Putin must agree truce or face 'massive' sanctions

Sir Keir Starmer and other European leaders have warned Vladimir Putin he faces "massive" new sanctions and increased military aid to Ukraine if he does not agree to an almost immediate 30-day ceasefire.

- KATE DEVLIN

The prime minister said they were "calling out" the Russian leader with the backing of Donald Trump. "If [Putin] is serious about peace, he has a chance to show it now," Sir Keir said.

And he warned there were "no more ifs and buts" after he flew to Kyiv to stand side by side with President Zelensky, saying Putin had not required extra conditions to be met when "he wanted a ceasefire to have a parade - and he does not need them now".

In an extraordinary turnaround just weeks after President Trump's showdown with Mr Zelensky in the Oval Office, Sir Keir also said Europe and the US were "speaking with one voice" on the issue.

Mr Trump has also threatened extra sanctions if a 30-day truce, which has already been agreed by Ukraine, fails to start tomorrow. Sir Keir also said Putin would face countries increasing "our military aid for Ukraine's defence to pressure Russia back to the table" if he did not act.