Ukraine-Russia ceasefire latest: Zelensky says 30-day truce could be basis for broader peace deal – UK Times

Volodymyr Zelensky says his allies in the US should have visited Ukraine more often, in order to better understand the situation it was in.

“I always said to our colleagues from the United States to come out here to see where there are complexities, where people are living, how they’re fighting our kids, you know, to visit underground schools during the war,” he said.

“It is not easy to understand everything with wealth of different information floating [around] the world, particularly Russian information. “

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said the 30-day ceasefire with Russia could be used to draft a broader peace deal.

Hailing this week’s meeting in Saudi Arabia between US and Ukrainian officials, he said in a briefing that Kyiv supported Washington’s effort to end Russia’s three-year invasion as soon as possible.

The resumption of US military aid and intelligence sharing was very positive, he added.

“Everything depends on whether Russia is willing to do so, to install a truce, or if it is willing to continue killing people,” Mr Zelensky said.

Political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:

Sir Keir Starmer has said the US is an “indispensable ally”, insisting that the two countries are working closely to secure peace in Ukraine.

Despite fallout from Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on the UK overnight on Tuesday, the prime minister said he is “committed to strengthening… relations” between Britain and the US.

“The US is an indispensable ally. We are working together to try to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and I’ve spoken to the president on a number of occasions, including this week,” he added.

Political editor David Maddox reports:

SNP MP Dave Doogan had a closed question on the UK’s relationship with the US.

His follow up PMQ was to point out that when he had asked Starmer last week about whether Trump would cancel military aid to Ukraine, the prime minister said it was “nonsense” and would not happen.

As we know now, Trump did exactly that within a few hours of that answer and cancelled aid and intelligence to Ukraine.

It made the prime minister look foolish, especially as he had said he had received assurance over the phone with the US president.

The issue of trust going forward is also being tested with the latest US tariffs – and clearly Doogan hit a sore point for the PM.

European countries will have to rethink sanctions on Russia amid ceasefire efforts in Ukraine, US secretary of state Marco Rubio told reporters in Ireland.

Speaking during a fuel stop in Shannon Airport, he said: “I would imagine that in any negotiation, if we get there, hopefully with the Russians, that they will raise the European sanctions that have been imposed upon them.

“I think that the issue of European sanctions are going to be on the table, not to mention what happens with the frozen assets and the like,” he added.

“It’s self evident that for there to be a peace in Ukraine at the end of that process, there’s going to have to be some decision made by the Europeans about what they’re going to do with these sanctions.”

Russian abductions of Ukrainians must be dealt with, Sir Keir Starmer has said, as Ukraine and the US move towards agreeing a peace deal.

Addressing the prime minister at PMQs, Lib Dem MP Mike Martin noted Russia had abducted at least 19,000 Ukrainian children and taken them to Russia.

Mr Martin said: “I note the prime minister’s previous fulsome support for the ICC, and I also note his comments just last night about the support that the Ukraine would offer to the UK in achieving a just and lasting peace.

“Will the prime minister confirm to the House that British peacekeeping will only be deployed to Ukraine if the peacekeeping deal includes both the return of Ukraine’s children and Putin’s prosecution?”

Responding, Sir Keir said: “Firstly I thank him for raising this issue because it is an absolutely terrible case of abduction and kidnapping.

“And when we say a lasting or just peace in Ukraine it must of course involve dealing with this issue and we are as he would expect raising it continuously with our allies.”

British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is speaking now at prime minister’s questions.

He opened the session with a statement on proposals for a 30 day ceasefire in Ukraine, saying he “welcomes the progress in talks between Ukraine and the US”.

“We must now redouble our efforts to get a lasting secure peace”, he told the Commons.

He added: “On Saturday, I’ll convene international leaders to discuss how we can make further progress.”

We’ll bring you all the key lines relating to peace efforts in Ukraine.

Deterrence against future Russian aggression is needed for long-term peace, US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said.

Asked on whether the US will commit to security guarantees, he said: “Ukraine wants their long term security, that they want to make sure that this doesn’t happen.

“What is the point of spending all this time to get a ceasefire, and then a negotiated end of the war, only to see it spark up again in about six years, four years, three years.

“So I think the question really is more about a deterrence. Can Ukraine create a sufficient deterrent against future aggression, against future attack, against future invasion?

“Because every country in the world has a right to defend themselves, and no one can dispute that, so that will most certainly have to be part of the conversation.

“There’s no way to have a enduring peace without the deterrence piece being a part of that.”

Marco Rubio has said that negotiations towards peace are not “just about ending the war” for Ukraine.

“The Ukraine has been very clear that this isn’t just about ending a war. They need to get their prisoners of war back. They need to get the children back,” he told reporters in Ireland.