British Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened a virtual summit with leaders from 25 nations on Saturday, pressing for a united front to counter Russia’s role in the Ukraine conflict. Hosting the meeting from London, Starmer championed the “Coalition of the Willing,” a group aimed at ensuring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, warning that Russia must not be allowed to “play games” with ceasefire efforts.

Addressing representatives from Ukraine, the EU Commission, NATO, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and European nations, Starmer stressed the need for decisive action. “We can’t let Putin delay or manipulate peace processes with empty promises,” he said, urging leaders to ramp up economic and military pressure on Russia. The summit follows Kyiv’s agreement to a 30-day ceasefire earlier this week, a proposal Russia has resisted, citing preconditions like Ukraine abandoning NATO aspirations.

Starmer outlined a three-point agenda: bolstering Ukraine’s defenses, preparing to enforce any peace deal through the coalition, and intensifying sanctions on Moscow. “If Russia is serious about peace, it must stop its barbaric attacks and negotiate. The world is watching,” he declared. The UK has signaled readiness to deploy peacekeepers if a truce is secured, calling on the US to provide security backing.

The meeting caps a week of intense UK diplomacy, including Defence Secretary John Healey’s talks in Paris and Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s G7 engagements in Canada. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, present at the summit, has welcomed the coalition’s support amid stalled US-led talks with Russia. Starmer’s push reflects growing European resolve to lead on Ukraine, especially as US President Donald Trump’s recent discussions with Vladimir Putin have excluded Kyiv, raising concerns about Moscow dictating terms.