Sir Keir Starmer has emphasised Britain’s unflinching support for Ukraine after it emerged Volodymyr Zelensky had proposed an ultimatum for ending the bloodshed.
He stressed to European allies that any peace must be ‘just and lasting’ – as all eyes turn to imminent crunch summit in Florida.
In a call with German and French leaders on Friday, the Prime Minister said it remained ‘a crucial moment for Ukraine and security across the Euro-Atlantic region’, as all three reaffirmed their ‘unwavering commitment’ to Ukraine.
A Downing Street spokesperson said the leaders ‘reiterated their unshakeable commitment for a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and the importance that talks continue to progress towards this in the coming days’.
The leaders spoke after Mr Zelensky declared on Friday morning that he was planning a last-minute trip to meet President Trump in Florida, in hopes of negotiating a peace deal before the New Year.
He confirmed that he would be open to letting the people decide Ukraine’s fate, by putting the latest version of the peace plan to a referendum if the Kremlin agrees to a ceasefire lasting at least 60 days.
Mr Zelensky said he would meet Mr Trump in Florida over the weekend to discuss security guarantees, insisting a peace plan is ‘about 90 percent ready’.
He added that he expected to discuss an ‘economic agreement’ and ‘territorial issues’ with Mr Trump, and said he hoped European leaders could also be involved in talks either on Sunday or at a future date.
President Zelensky will meet President Trump in Florida later his week to finalise the latest version of the peace plan
Russian attacks continue to rain down on Ukraine, inflicting scenes of devastation such as this scene in Odesa on Christmas Day
Sir Keir Starmer has restated Britain’s unflinching support for Ukraine
The talks in Florida are the latest stage in Mr Trump’s year-long effort to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine, having promised to do so rapidly when he came to power.
On Christmas Eve, Mr Zelensky said the US and Ukraine had reached a consensus on a number of critical issues, and indicated he was open to creating a demilitarised zone on his country’s eastern border with Russia.
However, a key issue of contention remains the eastern Donbas region, made up of the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts.
Russia has demanded Ukraine hand over the whole of the Donbas in exchange for peace, having taken most of the land by force already.
But Zelensky has always refused to do so, insisting he has no “constitutional” or “moral” right to cede Ukrainian land.
It remains to be seen whether he will consider turning this key decision over to the people, as he has not currently agreed to any blueprint that incorporates concessions of unconquered land.
Russia is also likely to object to Nato forces monitoring a ceasefire, which European leaders including Sir Keir and Mr Macron have said must form part of any deal.
Other European demands include allowing Ukraine to maintain a peace-time military of 800,000 troops and join the EU, while the US has reportedly offered unspecified security guarantees.
Zelensky said he would be open to putting the latest version of the peace plan to a referendum in Ukraine
Putin has demanded Ukraine hands over the entire Donbas region
In a statement posted to his X account Friday morning, Zelensky noted that his chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, ‘reported on his latest contacts with the American side’.
‘We are not losing a single day,’ he continued in his post, adding ‘we have agreed on a meeting at the highest level – with President Trump in the near future.’
Setting a timeline for his latest negotiation, the Ukrainian leader noted that ‘a lot can be decided before the New Year.’
The Kiev Post reported Friday that Zelensky is ‘expected to travel to Florida in the coming days for high-stakes talks in Mar-a-Lago – a potential venue for a meeting with US leadership.’
Trump has no public events on his schedule on Friday, and the White House did not immediately respond to a Daily Mail request for comment to confirm details about a potential meeting.
The talks at Trump’s Florida residence are expected to focus on the structure, timing, and substance of a potential ceasefire framework.
Zelensky earlier held a marathon call on Christmas Day with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which he described as an intensive discussion on how to halt the fighting.
‘We have some new ideas,’ Zelensky said after the call. ‘Some documents are already prepared. As I see it, they are nearly ready, and some documents are fully prepared.’
Zelensky has consistently said that Ukraine has never acted as a barrier to peace – and that the real challenge is getting Russia to make a genuine commitment to ending the bloodshed.
Meanwhile the conflict continues, with Russian missile and drone strikes hitting Ukraine early on Friday, while Kyiv claimed it had used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to attack a major Russian oil refinery on Thursday.
