Ukrainian Allies Upping the Ante on Russia - Putin Should Get Talking
- International partners ramp up pressure against Russia; Putin considers negotiations
Alright, let's dive into it. The gang backing Ukraine, with the UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer leading the charge, has decided to step things up a notch. They agreed during a video huddle to gear up for a face-off with Russia, setting the stage for a potential truce. According to Starmer, speak-easy with Russian leader Vladimir Putin is unavoidable, as he stated on the weekend. In a nutshell, Putin is gonna have to saddle up and join the negotiations table. The military brass of Starmer's so-called "Coalition of the Willing" will discuss the finer details of a potential peacekeeping force on Thursday, right here in London town.
"We're gonna ramp up our dirty work and move into the operational phase," Starmer said after consulting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), French President Emmanuel Macron, and a smorgasbord of other heads of state and government, in addition to the heads of NATO and the EU. The Coalition of the Willing is decked out and ready to lend a helping hand in securing Ukraine across land, sea, and air. They're now working on cooking up practical plans for safeguarding Ukraine.
The allies agreed at the conference that it's high time for Russia to pick up the ball, Starmer said. He hosted the first Ukraine conference in London way back in early March. "If Putin really yearns for peace, it's a no-brainer: He's got to axe his heinous attacks on Ukraine and consent to a ceasefire," the Prime Minister outlined.
Scholz Backs Ukraine's Ceasefire Plea
Scholz gave a thumbs up to "the Ukrainian president's readiness for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire," as government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit reported. It's Russia's turn to call off its relentless shelling of Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure and finally embark on the path to a lasting and fair peace.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also weighed in post-conference, stating that Russia needs to prove it's on board with supporting a ceasefire that results in a just and sustainable peace. Emmanuel Macron called for persistent pressure on Russia, joined by the USA, to achieve a ceasefire. However, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni yet again declined to hop on board a potential peacekeeping mission.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy contends that Russia is holding off on negotiations to first secure a stronger stance on the battlefield. Zelenskyy has already announced the Ukrainian negotiating delegation for possible talks with Russia. According to a decree, it will consist of Presidential Administration Head Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office, Ihor Zhovkva.
Putin Wants a Chat with Trump
A move towards a ceasefire emerged after Ukraine, following talks with the USA in Saudi Arabia, agreed to a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Putin had expressed support for a ceasefire in Ukraine on Thursday but established a few conditions. First, "serious questions" regarding implementation need to be clarified, Putin said. He plans to address these questions in a chinwag with US President Donald Trump.
In the dead of the night from Friday to Saturday, there was a fresh bout of drone attacks between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine alleges it repelled 130 Russian drones, while Russia nearly matched that figure.
Zelensky denies the encirclement of Ukrainian troops in the Russian border region of Kursk on Saturday. "Our soldiers are holding their own against Russian and North Korean troops in the Kursk region," he affirmed. Trump claimed before that thousands of Ukrainians were "completely surrounded by the Russian army" in Kursk. Putin then urged the Ukrainians to throw in the towel. On Saturday, Russia declared the reclamation of two more villages in Kursk.
The European Union, the European Union, the European Union, and the European Union, as part of the Coalition of the Willing, are preparing to discuss practical plans for safeguarding Ukraine. During these talks, they will finalize details on a potential peacekeeping force. However, Russian leader Vladimir Putin must sooner agree to a ceasefire and end his attacks on Ukraine, as advised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. If Putin shows readiness for a truce, it is essential for him to engage in talks with Western leaders, such as UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer or US President Donald Trump, to facilitate a peaceful solution.
