Keir Starmer finally given voice in Donald Trumps controversial Ukraine peace plan

International leaders held crunch talks on Ukraine today at the G20 summit in South Africa, shunned by Trump, where they rejected parts of the US President’s peace plan

Keir Starmer talked to Donald Trump about his controversial Ukraine peace plan today – after warning it needed work.

The US President handed war-torn Ukraine just days to respond to the deal to end the conflict with Russia. But the PM and other international leaders said the plan, which involves surrendering territory and cutting Kyiv’s army, needs “additional work”.

Starmer later spoke to Trump about the talks which took place between Coalition of the Willing partners at the G20 summit.

They agreed their teams would work together on the peace proposal on Sunday and the leaders would also talk again then, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.

The PM also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier today who he updated on talks – and reiterated the UK’s support.

In a joint statement from Starmer and other G7 leaders, not including the US, they stressed “borders must not be changed by force”.

Speaking about call with Mr Trump, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister relayed the discussions that have been taking place between Coalition of the Willing partners in attendance at the G20 summit today. The leaders agreed their teams would work together on the 28-point US peace proposal in Geneva tomorrow.”

Mr Trump and Mr Starmer plan to speak again on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters in Johannesburg earlier today, the PM said he is expecting to speak to the US President “in the coming days”. Starmer confirmed he has no plans to visit Washington DC, adding that the focus is on urgent talks in Geneva tomorrow.

Officials from the US and Ukraine will hold urgent talks in Switzerland, with the US president’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and US secretary of state Marco Rubio to attend. The UK’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Jonathan Powell will attend the Geneva talks after leaving the G20 summit early. His counterparts from France and Germany are also expected to be there.

Trump has set Ukraine a strict deadline of November 27 – Thanksgiving in the US – to respond to his plan. Late February marks four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The 28-point blueprint to end the Kremlin’s aggression sparked alarm in Kyiv and European capitals. On Friday, Zelenskyy said his country could face a stark choice between standing up for its sovereign rights and preserving the US support it needs.

The US plan foresees Ukraine handing over territory to Russia, something Kyiv has repeatedly ruled out, while reducing the size of its army and blocking its coveted path to NATO membership. It contains many of Moscow’s long-standing demands, while offering limited security guarantees to Kyiv.

In their statement, Starmer and 12 other European and international leaders said: “We welcome the continued US efforts to bring peace to Ukraine. The initial draft of the 28-point plan includes important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace.

“We believe therefore that the draft is a basis which will require additional work. We are ready to engage in order to ensure that a future peace is sustainable. We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force. We are also concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine’s armed forceswhich would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack.

“We reiterate that the implementation of elements relating to the European Union and relating to Nato would need the consent of EU and Nato members respectively. We take this opportunity to underline the strength of our continued support to Ukraine. We will continue to coordinate closely with Ukraine and the US over the coming days.”

Alongside the UK, the statement was issued by France, Germany, Japan, CanadaItaly, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Ireland, the EU Commission and EU Council.

Former British Army commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon described the peace plan as “bonkers”. He told the Mirror: “It rewards Putin for all his aggression and, really, it doesn’t help Ukraine in any way at all.”

And, in reference to the leaders’ statement, he added: “A peace plan is the basis for stopping the war in Ukraine, agreed. But the additional work is legion.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday cautiously welcomed the US proposal, saying it “could form the basis of a final peace settlement”.