War: It’s time to play ball, UK ready to defend Ukraine’s future – PM Starmer to Putin

The United Kingdom, UK, Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, on Thursday said it's time for President Vladimir Putin of Russia to show he's “willing to play ball.”

Starmer said the UK is stepping up modalities to defend Ukraine's future.

Posting on X, Starmer wrote: “We are stepping up to play our part to defend Ukraine’s future.

“Now Putin needs to show he’s willing to play ball.”

This comes as Starmer accused Putin of making “hollow promises” on a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The prime minister is co-hosting a summit of allies in Paris to present plans, devised by senior military chiefs, that seek to deter future Russian aggression against Ukraine, including potentially posting troops there.

The so-called “coalition of the willing” meeting comes hours after its other co-host, French President Emmanuel Macron, suggested a European reassurance force could “respond” if attacked by Moscow.

It follows separate talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, which led to a ceasefire in the Black Sea being agreed.

Starmer will tell the coalition that “excellent progress” was made during the military chiefs' meeting in London last week, and that Europe is “mobilising together in pursuit of peace, but now we must keep up the momentum”, according to No 10.

But he will also accuse Putin of “playing games” with the agreement for a naval ceasefire, which would allow the reopening of trade routes in the Black Sea.

Starmer had said: “Unlike [Ukraine's] President [Volodymyr] Zelensky, Putin has shown he's not a serious player in these peace talks.

“[Putin is] playing games with the agreed naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, despite good faith participation from all sides – all while continuing to inflict devastating attacks on the Ukrainian people. His promises are hollow.”