Keir Starmer joins world leaders in Ukraine to name for ceasefire

[ad_1] Henry Zeffman Chief political correspondent, travelling with the prime minister

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/d9e5/live/ccdc5df0-2d6b-11f0-848a-ab6c49cae222.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/d9e5/live/ccdc5df0-2d6b-11f0-848a-ab6c49cae222.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d9e5/live/ccdc5df0-2d6b-11f0-848a-ab6c49cae222.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/d9e5/live/ccdc5df0-2d6b-11f0-848a-ab6c49cae222.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/d9e5/live/ccdc5df0-2d6b-11f0-848a-ab6c49cae222.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/d9e5/live/ccdc5df0-2d6b-11f0-848a-ab6c49cae222.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/d9e5/live/ccdc5df0-2d6b-11f0-848a-ab6c49cae222.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d9e5/live/ccdc5df0-2d6b-11f0-848a-ab6c49cae222.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer wearing a black zip-up jacket sits at a wooden table with French President Emanuel Macron, in white shirt and hoodie, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in blue jumper and shirt, on board a train to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv where all three will hold meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Reuters Sir Keir Starmer, President Macron and Friedrich Merz held a gathering on the practice to Kyiv

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Ukraine the place he'll be a part of fellow world leaders to place stress on Russia to comply with a 30-day ceasefire within the conflict.

Sir Keir travelled by practice with President Emmanuel Macron of France and Friedrich Merz, who's making his first journey to Ukraine since changing into Germany's chancellor this week.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is becoming a member of them in Kyiv. It's Sir Keir's second go to to Ukraine as prime minister.

He and the opposite leaders are utilizing the go to to induce Russia to "agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire" - a proposal initially made by US President Donald Trump.

The leaders' determination to journey to Kyiv collectively is a intentionally symbolic response to the greater than 20 leaders who joined President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for Russia's Victory Day commemorations on Friday.

The leaders additionally vowed to "ratchet up stress on Russia's conflict machine".

In the course of the go to, the 4 leaders will be a part of President Volodymyr Zelensky for a digital assembly of the "coalition of the prepared" - the group of round 30 primarily European nations looking for methods to entrench Ukraine's safety if a peace take care of Russia is agreed.

They can even pay their respects to Ukrainian troopers killed in motion since Russia's full-scale invasion greater than three years in the past.

In an announcement launched earlier than their arrival, the leaders stated: "We, the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, and the UK will stand in Kyiv in solidarity with Ukraine in opposition to Russia's barbaric and unlawful full-scale invasion.

"We reiterate our backing for President Trump's requires a peace deal and name on Russia to cease obstructing efforts to safe an everlasting peace.

"Alongside the US, we name on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the area for talks on a simply and lasting peace.

"We're able to help peace talks as quickly as doable, to debate technical implementation of the ceasefire, and put together for a full peace deal.

"We're clear the bloodshed should finish, Russia should cease its unlawful invasion, and Ukraine should be capable to prosper as a secure, safe and sovereign nation inside its internationally recognised borders for generations to come back.

"We'll proceed to extend our help for Ukraine. Till Russia agrees to an everlasting ceasefire, we'll ratchet up stress on Russia's conflict machine."

Russia introduced it might mark World Battle Two Victory Day with a unilateral, three-day ceasefire, which Ukraine rejected as a "theatrical present".

Kyiv has described the truce as a farce, accusing Russia of launching 1000's of assaults because it got here into pressure at midnight on Wednesday. Russia says it has noticed the ceasefire and accuses Ukraine of a whole bunch of violations.

German Chancellor Merz stated he had excessive hopes {that a} full ceasefire may very well be agreed as quickly as this weekend.

Russia's three-day truce is about to finish on Saturday evening, however Merz stated it may very well be prolonged to 30 days and the "ball is now solely in Moscow's courtroom".