Putin no longer surprises: Starmer speaks out about Kremlin’s refusal to agree to 30-day ceasefire

The British Prime Minister also noted what Ukraine’s allies need to do now.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was not surprised by the Kremlin’s rejection of a US-backed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Asked what he thought should happen next, the prime minister said the focus must remain on achieving a lasting and secure peace in Ukraine.

“That’s what we all want. I’m not entirely surprised that Russia has taken this position. They’ve made that very clear. They’ve said it many times,” he said, The Telegraph reports .

When asked whether US President Donald Trump was placing too much hope in Putin, Starmer said he had always felt and hoped that the “ball would eventually be in Russia’s court and the pressure would shift to them. In particular, he believes that this happened after the US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia.

The British prime minister added that Putin was “being tested” and his resistance to security guarantees “only reinforces the belief” that unless the deal is backed by security guarantees, he will eventually renege on it.

(C)UNIAN 2025