Sir Keir Starmer has thrown his support behind Ukraine’s demand for a full and unconditional ceasefire, following the breakdown of a 30-hour “Easter truce” declared unilaterally by Russia over the weekend.
In a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK’s “iron-clad” support for Kyiv, as reports emerged of continued Russian attacks despite President Vladimir Putin’s temporary ceasefire declaration.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister told President Zelensky that the UK supports Ukraine’s calls for Russia to commit to a full ceasefire, and that now is the time for Putin to show he is serious about ending his brutal war.”
The call also included discussions about the so-called “coalition of the willing”, a diplomatic initiative led by Britain and France aimed at bolstering international support for Ukraine amid waning momentum in other parts of Europe and the United States.
Following the conversation, Mr Zelensky described the exchange on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) as “good and detailed”, adding: “Already this Wednesday, our representatives will be working in London. Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States — we are ready to move forward as constructively as possible, just as we have done before, to achieve an unconditional ceasefire, followed by the establishment of a real and lasting peace.”
The renewed diplomatic effort comes in the wake of a short-lived truce declared by President Putin on Saturday, purportedly for “humanitarian considerations” in observance of Orthodox Easter. The Kremlin claimed the ceasefire would last from Saturday evening until Monday morning.
However, both Kyiv and Moscow accused each other of breaching the truce almost immediately. President Zelensky said Russian forces had violated the ceasefire more than 2,900 times, continuing shelling and launching drone strikes across eastern and southern Ukraine.
Among the reported casualties were three civilians in Kherson oblast, according to regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin. “Russian shelling didn’t stop, even for a moment,” he said.
President Zelensky challenged the sincerity of Russia’s gesture, calling the truce a “cynical stunt” and urging the Kremlin to adopt a more comprehensive 30-day ceasefire, as previously proposed in US-Ukrainian discussions.
“An unconditional ceasefire must be the first step toward peace,” Mr Zelensky said. “This Easter made it clear that it is Russia’s actions that are prolonging the war, not Ukraine’s resolve for peace.”
In response, Russia’s defence ministry denied any breaches of its own truce and countered that Ukraine had violated the agreement over 4,900 times. The Kremlin has remained tight-lipped on whether it would consider a broader ceasefire, instead repeating demands for the lifting of Western sanctions as a condition for meaningful negotiations.
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Western analysts have expressed scepticism over Russia’s intentions. Many view the ceasefire as a tactical move by Moscow to buy time, particularly as reports of growing discontent within Russia’s own ranks and among its international partners have emerged in recent weeks.
Sir Keir’s backing of a full ceasefire marks a shift in tone from earlier months when the UK’s involvement largely focused on military support. His call comes at a time when public fatigue with the conflict is growing and questions around a viable peace process are becoming more urgent.
The Prime Minister is expected to push the agenda forward during the upcoming London meetings, with Downing Street hinting at further measures to support Ukraine both militarily and diplomatically.
As the war in Ukraine drags into its third year, calls for a durable and verifiable ceasefire are growing louder. Yet with trust between the two sides at a low ebb and geopolitical tensions still high, a lasting resolution remains frustratingly out of reach.
