Keir Starmer warns Donald Trump that ‘now shouldn’t be the time’ for lifting sanctions on Russia – as PM calls for ‘filibustering’ Vladimir Putin be handed a deadline for agreeing a ceasefire

Keir Starmer today warned Donald Trump that ‘now is not the time’ for the lifting of sanctions on Russia after meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris.

The PM joined the latest talks of the so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ in the French capital as allies continued to draw up plans for a possible peacekeeping force.

Appearing alongside Mr Zelensky after the discussions, Sir Keir said the 30 nations attending the summit had agreed it was too early to ease sanctions on Russia.

He added they had even discussed efforts to punish Moscow further over its brutal invasion of Ukraine.

This will pile pressure on Mr Trump not to cede to recent Russian demands for the lifting of some sanctions before agreeing to a ceasefire in the Black Sea.

Shortly after the announcement of a possible deal this week, the Kremlin said it would not come into effect unless some financial sanctions were lifted. 

Despite Mr Trump admitting the Kremlin could be ‘dragging their feet’, the US President repeated his belief that Russia wants an end to the three-year-long conflict.

Washington also appeared to signal an intention to ease sanctions on Russian agricultural goods and improve the country’s access to maritime insurance, ports and payment systems.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Sir Keir blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin for ‘filibustering’ and ‘playing games’ over a ceasefire.

The PM demanded Moscow be set a deadline for demonstrating ‘real progress’ towards ending its attacks on Ukraine.

European nations have been left alarmed by an apparent softening towards Russia by the US President’s top advisers.

Steve Witkoff, Mr Trump’s de facto envoy to Mr Vladimir Putin, has faced furious accusations from Kyiv of parroting Moscow propaganda.

It followed his recent comments about Russian-invaded parts of Ukraine, during which he also praised Mr Putin as a ‘very smart guy’.

Following parallel talks in Saudia Arabia, the US has reached separate deals with Ukraine and Russia to pause their attacks in the Black Sea and against energy targets.

The Kremlin has said the deals would not coming into effect without certain financial sanctions on Russia being eased.

But, speaking in Paris this afternoon, Sir Keir said those nations taking part in Thursday’s ‘coalition of the willing’ summit agreed there should be no easing of sanctions.

The PM said there had been three outcomes from the talks, adding: ‘Firstly, more support for Ukraine to make sure Ukraine is in the strongest possible position, both now and in further negotiations.

‘Second, complete clarity that now is not the time for lifting of sanctions.

‘Quite the contrary, what we discussed is how we can increase sanctions to support the US initiative, to bring Russia to the table through further pressure from this group of countries.

‘And of course, we discussed further the plans for reassuring the peace, the coalition of the willing and the military and operational plans, whether they’re on the land, the air or the sea, but there was very strong support.

‘And what came out most strongly from the meeting was so many countries standing, as they’ve stood for over three years now, with Ukraine, standing in this crucial moment for as long as it takes.’

At a press conference later, Sir Keir accused Mr Putin of ‘filibustering’ in order to delay Mr Trump’s efforts to reach a peace deal.

He said: ‘President Trump has rightly called them out for dragging their feet, and we agreed here in Paris today that it’s clear the Russians are filibustering.

‘They are playing games, and they’re playing for time. It is a classic from the Putin playbook.

‘But we can’t let them drag this out while they continue prosecuting their illegal invasion.’

The PM demanded that Russia now be handed a ‘deadline’ for agreeing steps towards peace.

Sir Keir said allies in Paris had agreed ‘we should be setting a framework and a deadline of delivering real progress, and that we should hold them to that deadline’.

He said: ‘We’ve agreed that we must go further now to support the peace process, support Ukraine and increase the pressure on Russia to get serious.’

The ‘coalition of the willing’ has now met four times in either London or Paris as they draw up plans for a European-led peacekeeping force to be deployed to Ukraine to help enforce a potential peace deal.

Sir Keir revealed, following Thursday’s talks, that the UK, French and German chiefs of defence will meet in Ukraine to discuss ‘how those plans or options are going to be implemented’.

The PM co-hosted Thursday’s gathering in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The 30 nations who attended, along with representatives of the EU and NATO, considered the results of military planning talks at London’s Northwood military headquarters.

Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of breaking the terms of a tentative US-brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure.

The White House said the idea of the Black Sea deal was to ‘ensure safe navigation’ and ‘eliminate the use of force’ in the sea.

However, the US also appeared to signal an intention to ease sanctions on Russian agricultural goods and improve Mr Putin’s access to maritime insurance, ports and payment systems.

The talks were part of efforts by Mr Trump’s administration to implement a limited, 30-day ceasefire that Moscow and Kyiv agreed to in principle last week.

That has so far failed to materialise as both sides continue to launch drone and rocket attacks.

Russia’s defence ministry claimed Ukrainian drone attacks hit power facilities in the Bryansk and Kursk regions this week, which Ukraine dismissed as Kremlin disinformation aimed at justifying continued hostilities.

Ukrainian officials have said Moscow is ‘lying’ about observing a ceasefire on energy infrastructure and has carried out eight confirmed hits on power sites.