UK premier Keir Starmer said the “ball was in Russia’s court” and that President Vladimir Putin would “sooner or later” have to “come to the table,” after a virtual summit on Saturday to garner support for a coalition willing to protect any eventual truce in Ukraine.
The British leader told some 26 fellow leaders as they joined the group call hosted by Downing Street that they should focus on how to strengthen Ukraine, protect any ceasefire and keep up the pressure on Moscow. While Ukraine had shown it was the “party of peace” by agreeing to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, “Putin is the one trying to delay,” he said.
Military chiefs will meet again on Thursday in the UK as the coalition moves into “the operational phase,” Starmer said after the talks.
Russia, Ukraine trade overnight aerial attacks
Russia and Ukraine traded heavy aerial blows overnight, with both sides reporting Saturday more than 100 enemy drones over their respective territories. The attacks come less than 24 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss details of the American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine.
Russia begins demining
Russian engineering units have started demining operations in reclaimed border areas of the Kursk region, the Russian defence ministry said Saturday. The efforts are aimed to facilitate the restoration of essential infrastructure and the resumption of economic activities following intense combat, it said.