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United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday said the UK will continue to increase sanctions on Russia until President Vladimir Putin ends his military campaign in Ukraine. “Until Putin stops his assault, we will keep tightening the screws on his war machine with even more sanctions,” Starmer said in a statement issued by Downing Street.
His remarks came just hours after US President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, in talks that Western leaders have described as a potential opening to end the ongoing conflict.
Starmer called the Trump-Putin meeting a possible step forward, provided that Russia shows genuine intent to de-escalate, and credited Trump’s diplomatic efforts for bringing key international players closer to a resolution.
“President Trump’s efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia’s war in Ukraine,” Starmer said.
He further stressed the need for continued diplomatic engagement, adding that the next phase must involve direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “We all stand ready to support this next phase,” he said, following a phone call with Trump, Zelenskyy, and several European leaders.
According to the statement by the UK PM's office, the call lasted an hour and took place after the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska. Besides Starmer, Trump and Zelenskyy, the call included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish President Karol Nawrocki and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
EUROPEAN LEADERS REAFFIRM SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, several European leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine and reiterated their commitment to maintaining pressure on Russia until the war comes to an end.
The statement was released after Trump briefed the group on his talks with Putin. The leaders said the next step should include direct talks with President Zelenskyy and expressed readiness to work with both Trump and Zelenskyy toward a possible three-way summit, backed by European support.
Earlier this week, Starmer met with Zelenskyy at Downing Street, where both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The Ukrainian president was in London on Thursday to rally European backing and to oppose any deal that would involve ceding Ukrainian territory to Russia.
Both sides agreed that the Trump-Putin meeting could represent a meaningful opportunity for progress, but only if Moscow takes credible steps toward de-escalation. Following the meeting, Zelenskyy said he and Starmer held in-depth discussions on possible security guarantees for Ukraine.
In a post on X, he described the discussion as “productive,” with a focus on how peace could be sustained if the United States succeeds in pressuring Russia to halt its military actions and engage in serious diplomacy. He also noted that the talks included discussions on investment in Ukraine’s drone manufacturing sector.
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Published By:
Shipra Parashar
Published On:
Aug 16, 2025
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