Sir Keir Starmer is focused on a “durable peace”, Downing Street has said, after Donald Trump’s envoy to Ukraine dismissed his “coalition of the willing” plan.
Steve Witkoff – who is leading the US ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine and Russia – described the prime minister’s idea as “posture and pose” and accused him of adopting the “simplistic” notion that leaders “have all got to be like Winston Churchill”.
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Pushed by the UK and France, the “coalition of the willing” could see troops from a number of European and NATO countries deployed to Ukraine as peacekeepers after a ceasefire in order to deter Vladimir Putin from launching further attacks on its neighbour.
Sir Keir’s official spokesman defended the idea following Mr Witkoff’s comments, saying the PM remained “focused on the outcome of durable peace in Ukraine” and that he was working on the “planning phase” of the coalition.
He wouldn’t be drawn on whether the remarks were discussed in a phone call between the prime minister and Mr Trump on Sunday night.
He said the focus of their conversation was an “economic deal” with the US, but “we are engaging with the US at all levels on Ukraine”.
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Mr Witkoff made the comments in an interview with pro-Trump journalist Tucker Carlson.
He told Mr Carlson he recently met with the Russian president in Moscow and “liked” him.
“I don’t regard Putin as a bad guy. I thought that he was straight up with me,” he said.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves defended the prime minister’s “diplomatic efforts” in bringing together European leaders after being shown the clip on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
She said she was not “put off” by Mr Witkoff’s comments and any ceasefire “needs to be enforced” – and that’s what Sir Keir was focused on.
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Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey was more direct in his criticism, saying: “Trump’s so-called ‘special’ envoy might dismiss British leadership as pointless posturing, but we know what it really is.
“Britain leading in Europe again, as we have done in the greatest moments of our nation’s history.”
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More than 30 countries now stand ready to enforce a peace deal in Ukraine as part of the “coalition of the willing”, Downing Street said last week.
This includes a “significant number” of countries that will provide troops on the ground, while others are ready to contribute logistics and background support.
Ceasefire talks aiming to end the conflict in Ukraine began today in Saudi Arabia, and both nations are expected to hold indirect talks mediated by the US.
The hope is that both sides will agree on pausing long-range attacks on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure.
