Sir Keir Starmer has said he will speak to Donald Trump about his peace plan for Ukraine “in the coming days”, as Kyiv’s allies raise concerns over key elements. The Prime Minister also expects to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later on Saturday, ahead of talks in Geneva involving US, Ukrainian and European national security advisers.
The US-drafted plan, which proposes limits on Ukraine’s armed forces, territorial concessions, and a halt to Nato membership, has faced pushback from international leaders. In a joint statement after the G20 summit in Johannesburg, they called it “a basis which will require additional work”. Sir Keir said allies agreed that “there are elements…which are essential to lasting peace, but it requires additional work”.
Sir Keir expressed concern over proposed caps on Ukraine’s military, stating: “It’s fundamental that Ukraine has to be able to defend itself if there’s a ceasefire.” He welcomed the inclusion of an “article five” security guarantee, saying it “fortifies” his belief that Trump wants a “just and lasting peace”. The Prime Minister noted that the Geneva meeting on Sunday would allow officials to “go through quite a bit of detail”.
Trump has set a Thursday deadline for Ukraine’s response, though he suggested an extension is possible. Sir Keir said the process “should be done as soon as possible, but it’s got to be a just and lasting peace, and so we’ve got to get it right”. UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell left the G20 early to attend the Geneva talks.
The 28-point plan was reportedly negotiated secretly between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Kremlin representative Kirill Dmitriev, excluding Kyiv and European allies. Zelensky said Ukrainian representatives “know how to protect Ukrainian national interests”. The UK is set to host the G20 summit in 2027, with Sir Keir saying it would allow Britain “to shape the global agenda once again”.
