Crunch US-Ukraine talks to begin as Starmer urges ‘positive outcome’
All eyes will be on Saudi Arabia this week as discussions kick off between White House and Ukrainian delegations.
US-Ukraine talks on a possible peace for Kyiv will begin on Tuesday as defence chiefs gather in France to draw up plans for a “coalition of the willing” to safeguard the country’s security.
All eyes will be on Saudi Arabia this week as discussions kick off between White House and Ukrainian delegations in the country as part of an intensive week of diplomacy to find a deal to end the war.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told US president Donald Trump he wanted the talks to have a “positive outcome” that would see military aid and intelligence-sharing resume when the pair spoke on Monday.
The US leader paused the supply of weapons and crucial information for Kyiv’s war effort following his public spat with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Meanwhile, military chiefs from potential members of the so-called “coalition of the willing” will meet in Paris, with French officials indicating around 30 countries could take part.
Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin will attend for the UK before Defence Secretary John Healey meets opposite numbers from France, Germany, Italy and Poland in the French capital on Wednesday.
Sir Keir will lead a call with like-minded allies from the “coalition of the willing” on Saturday.
The call will involve leaders who have expressed an interest in contributing to or supporting a peacekeeping mission to deter Russia’s Vladimir Putin from launching a future attempt to conquer Ukraine if a deal to end the conflict is reached.
The meeting of defence ministers will also be attended by representatives from Nato and the European Union, with Ukraine’s Rustem Umerov dialling in.
Foreign ministers from the G7 – including David Lammy and US counterpart Marco Rubio – will meet in Canada from Wednesday to Friday.
Mr Lammy said he spoke to Mr Rubio and Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha on Monday “about how we keep the process for peace moving forward ahead of discussions in Saudi Arabia”.
The talks involving the US and Ukraine on Tuesday come after Mr Zelensky, Sir Keir and French president Emmanuel Macron agreed to work on peace proposals.
Not all the nations involved in the “coalition of the willing” are expected to commit to join a peacekeeping force, although they could offer logistical help for troops in Ukraine or other forms of support.
Sir Keir has stressed the need for Mr Trump’s US to provide a “backstop” security guarantee, a commitment to intervene if a European-led peacekeeping mission comes under threat.
Government insiders have warned of a “chicken and egg” situation where nations will not promise troops without US guarantees, but Mr Trump will not make commitments unless Europe steps up to defend itself.
Mr Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday for a planned meeting with the crown prince and de facto ruler of the country Mohammed bin Salman, although he is not expected to take part in the talks.
He said afterwards that “a significant part of the discussion was dedicated to the formats of security guarantees”.
“The Ukrainian delegation remains in Jeddah to work with the US team on Tuesday March 11, and we hope for practical outcomes. Ukraine’s position in these talks will be fully constructive,” Mr Zelensky said.
