UK premier hopes for Ukraine ceasefire by summer, rejects temporary truce

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has voiced optimism that a ceasefire in Ukraine could be reached by the summer, while firmly rejecting any deal that would offer Russia a temporary reprieve from the conflict it began in 2022.

In an interview with The Telegraph aboard the Royal Navy’s flagship HMS Prince of Wales, Starmer said talks had reached an “intense stage,” and reiterated that only Ukraine has the right to determine the terms of any agreement with Russia. “It is Ukraine that must decide on those issues – it’s not for other people to decide on behalf of Ukraine,” he stated.

Starmer warned that a short-term ceasefire would serve only to benefit Moscow. “What I don’t want to see is a ceasefire that is temporary, because I am as convinced as I can be that that will simply leave Russia with the capability and wherewithal to come again at some future time,” he said. “They’ve done it before – I’ve no doubt they will do it again.”

The Prime Minister is continuing to press the United States for security guarantees for British and allied forces that may be stationed in Ukraine as part of a future peace-monitoring mission. Although initial plans under the so-called “coalition of the willing” envisioned a larger Western presence, recent reports indicate that the UK is now favouring a reduced role, focusing on military training and support rather than combat deployments.

Starmer’s comments place him at odds with some of the positions emerging from Washington, particularly regarding the potential recognition of Crimea as Russian territory – something the UK has refused to endorse. He underlined that any peace deal must be “rooted in international law” and consistent with Ukraine’s sovereignty.

His remarks come amid a flurry of diplomatic activity. A recent summit in London and the emergence of competing U.S. and Ukrainian peace frameworks have exposed ongoing divisions among Western allies. Kyiv has proposed a five-point plan centred on full territorial integrity and long-term security guarantees, while Washington has put forward a more compromise-oriented seven-point approach.

Despite these differences, Starmer stressed that the transatlantic alliance must remain unified. “There are plenty of people urging that we should go in a Europe-only direction... I just think that’s wrong,” he said. “It is that ability to have a NATO-focused approach that has given us peace.”

By Vugar Khalilov