Putin will have to 'come to the table', says Starmer

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said Russian President Vladimir Putin will "sooner or later" have to "come to the table", as he opened a virtual gathering of the so-called "coalition of the willing" to drum up support for Ukraine.

Around 25 countries, including Canada, Ukraine, Australia and New Zealand took part in the meeting.

"My feeling is that sooner or later, he's going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussion," Mr Starmer told about 25 fellow leaders who joined the virtual summit.

Mr Starmer told allies the meeting would focus on three points "strengthening Ukraine, being prepared to defend any deal ourselves through a coalition of the willing and keeping that pressure on Russia at this crucial time".

He said Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky had shown that Ukraine was the "party of peace because he has agreed to and committed to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire".

"Putin is the one trying to delay... if Putin is serious about peace, I think it's very simple, he has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire, and the world is watching," he added.

In a statement after the meeting, Mr Starmer said it was agreed that "now the ball was in Russia's court and President Putin must prove he is serious about peace, and sign up to a ceasefire on equal terms.

"The Kremlin's dithering and delay over President Trump's ceasefire proposal, and Russia's continued barbaric attacks on Ukraine, run entirely counter to President Putin's stated desire for peace."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that Russia should back a ceasefire deal with Ukraine that could lead to durable peace.

"We reiterate our support to Ukraine's agreement to a ceasefire. Now Russia has to show that it is willing to support a ceasefire leading to a just and lasting peace," she said in a message on X.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is still in Washington where he is taking part in St Patrick's Day events, and so was not able to take part in the meeting.

While Mr Martin has stopped short of saying that Ireland will be part of a "coalition of the willing", he has said that the Government would consider deploying Irish troops to Ukraine in the event of a peace arrangement being agreed.

He has insisted, however, that they could not be used as part of a deterrent force.

The Taoiseach was invited to take part in the meeting, but it is understood that it was not possible as it would have required a secure line.

Additional reporting AFP, PA