“In the three years and a few months that this conflict has lasted, we have never been close to a real solution to achieve a ceasefire. And now we do have that opportunity, thanks to the work that President Trump has done,” Starmer declared in a video conference with other European leaders.

In his speech, Starmer, who affirmed that the negotiations are at a “crucial moment”, described Friday’s summit in Alaska between Trump and Putin as “extremely important”.

France: “the will” of the United States is “to obtain a ceasefire” in Ukraine

For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron assured this Wednesday after the meeting of European leaders and Trump that the "will" of the United States is to "obtain a ceasefire" in Ukraine and that Trump guaranteed it during the virtual meeting.

From Fort de Brganon, his official vacation residence in the south of France, Macron assured that only Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can negotiate a territorial agreement on Ukraine.

He also assured that Trump "will fight" to obtain a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelensky. “We hope it can be held in Europe, in a neutral country that is accepted by all parties,” he added.

Fears of Russian seizure of Ukrainian territories

Europeans fear that Trump and Putin will negotiate a territory swap between Russia and Ukraine to end the conflict between the two neighbors. “International borders cannot and should not be changed by force,” Starmer said. “That is a long-standing principle within this group.”

Russia is demanding that Ukraine cede four partially occupied regions from 2022 (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson), in addition to Crimea, annexed in 2014, and to renounce Western arms supplies and NATO membership.

Kyiv considers these demands unacceptable and wants the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory and Western security guarantees, such as arms supplies and the deployment of a European contingent.