Starmer urged allies to cut Russian oil and gas, support Kyiv with missiles, and praised Trump’s sanctions
London
Britain on Friday called on its allies to reach a deal allowing the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in London for high-level talks. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the plan would strengthen Ukraine’s position in future peace negotiations and increase pressure on Moscow.
Starmer also urged the “Coalition of the Willing” countries to remove Russian oil and gas from global markets and provide Kyiv with additional long-range missiles. He praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent sanctions on Russia’s top oil firms, calling them “decisive action.”
“Time and again we offer Putin the chance to end his needless invasion,” Starmer said in a statement. “He continues to reject peace. We must now ratchet up the pressure on Russia.”
European Union leaders, meeting in Brussels a day earlier, agreed to meet Ukraine’s urgent financial needs for the next two years but delayed a final decision on using frozen Russian assets due to Belgian objections. Zelenskiy had urged the EU to act quickly, saying the funds and weapons were vital for defending Ukraine.
Moscow, meanwhile, warned of a “painful response” if its assets were seized. President Vladimir Putin called the new sanctions unfriendly but insisted they would not seriously harm Russia’s economy.
Friday’s London talks included both in-person and virtual meetings, attended by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and leaders from Denmark and the Netherlands. Zelenskiy also met King Charles at Windsor Castle, continuing the monarch’s open support for Ukraine since the war began.
