Foreign Secretary David Lammy will host a meeting of allied national security advisers on Saturday as Donald Trump pushes for a peace deal in Ukraine. Downing Street announced that the gathering at Lammy's official country retreat, Chevening, would bring together advisers from the US, Europe and Ukraine to "discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace".
The meeting was arranged at the request of the US and will be co-hosted by American vice-president JD Vance, who is staying in Kent at Chevening at the start of his UK holiday. The high-level talks come as diplomatic efforts intensify around Ukraine's future.
Trump announces Putin summit
The meeting follows Trump's announcement that he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on 15th August to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The US president had earlier suggested that any peace deal was likely to involve "some swapping of territories", with reports suggesting this could involve Ukraine giving up its Donetsk region.
Trump had previously threatened to impose more stringent tariffs on Russia if Putin did not agree to a ceasefire by Friday. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already rejected any proposal that would compromise Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Zelensky rejects territorial concessions
Zelensky said Kyiv "will not give Russia any awards for what it has done" and that "Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier". Ukraine's constitution forbids giving away territory, making any territorial concessions legally impossible.
The Ukrainian president also warned that any peace agreement that excluded Ukraine would lead to "dead solutions". His firm stance highlights the challenges facing international efforts to broker a deal.
Starmer backs Ukraine position
Ahead of the meeting at Chevening, Sir Keir Starmer discussed the talks in a call with Zelensky on Saturday morning. A Downing Street spokesperson said both leaders welcomed Trump's desire to bring the war to an end but agreed on maintaining pressure on Putin.
"Both leaders welcomed President Trump's desire to bring this barbaric war to an end and agreed that we must keep up the pressure on Putin to end his illegal war," the spokesperson said. "The Prime Minister ended the call by reiterating his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people."
Lammy held formal talks with Vance at Chevening on Friday, during which they were expected to discuss the war in Ukraine. The weekend's diplomatic activity underscores the urgency surrounding efforts to find a resolution to the conflict.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
