UK Urges Putin to Commit to Ukraine Ceasefire as Coalition Leaders Demand Action

British PM Keir Starmer Calls for Immediate Peace Agreement Amid Intensifying Conflict

In a high-stakes diplomatic push, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to commit to a ceasefire in Ukraine, emphasizing that if Putin is “serious about peace”, he must act now rather than delaying negotiations. Starmer's statement came following a virtual meeting of the “coalition of the willing”—a group of approximately 25 allied nations convened to discuss the ongoing conflict.

The UK prime minister did not mince words when addressing Russia’s reluctance to accept a ceasefire deal proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Starmer criticized the Kremlin’s continued aggression, stating that Moscow's "dithering and delay", coupled with its unrelenting attacks on Ukraine, directly contradict Putin’s public declarations of seeking peace.

The meeting, which included leaders from France, Italy, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, along with NATO and European Union officials, focused on ensuring that any potential ceasefire would be accompanied by rigorous monitoring mechanisms to hold violators accountable.

“In the event of a ceasefire, we emphasized the need for strong monitoring arrangements to ensure that any violations of a deal are identified and called out,” Starmer stated.

While Ukraine has already endorsed the 30-day truce proposal, Russia remains non-committal, presenting a series of conditions that need to be met before finalizing an agreement. Meanwhile, military analysts suggest that Moscow’s growing battlefield momentum may be influencing Putin’s reluctance to halt operations, as Russian forces continue to make territorial gains in several frontline regions.

A Divide Among Allies: Europe Seeks Unity as U.S. Position Shifts

One of the most significant diplomatic challenges in securing a ceasefire agreement is the evolving stance of the United States under President Trump. Unlike the March 2 meeting of the coalition, this latest gathering of allied nations did not feature any official representation from Washington.

Since returning to the White House, Trump’s foreign policy on Ukraine has marked a notable shift from that of his predecessor, Joe Biden. The shift became even more evident after Trump’s Oval Office confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28, where he signaled a more cautious approach toward direct U.S. involvement in the war.

Despite cautious optimism from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has suggested that Putin may be considering a truce following his meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Starmer remains unconvinced.

“Putin continues to play pointless games with Trump’s peace plan,” Starmer remarked, warning that without firm commitments from the Kremlin, the war will persist.

The UK, alongside France and other European allies, has taken a leading role in rallying support for Kyiv, with an emphasis on strengthening Ukraine’s military capabilities and funding. Starmer has underscored the importance of continued financial and logistical backing for Ukraine, stressing that Europe cannot simply "sit back and wait" for peace to happen.

“My feeling is that sooner or later he’s going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussion, but this is a big ‘but’—we can’t sit back and simply wait for that to happen,” Starmer told leaders.

Ongoing Attacks: Russia and Ukraine Trade Heavy Drone Strikes

Even as diplomatic efforts intensify, fighting on the ground has escalated, with both Russia and Ukraine launching major aerial offensives overnight.

Russian Drone Strikes on Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure

According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia deployed a massive wave of 178 drones and two ballistic missiles in an overnight attack. Among them, a mix of Shahed-type kamikaze drones and decoy drones were used to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.

Despite Ukraine successfully shooting down 130 enemy drones, several critical energy facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions sustained significant damage.

“The damage is significant. Energy workers are already on the ground, working tirelessly to restore power as quickly as possible,” said DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy provider.

Some Ukrainian residents were left without electricity, raising concerns over Russia’s continued targeting of civilian infrastructure—a tactic repeatedly condemned by international human rights organizations.

Ukraine Strikes Back: Volgograd Refinery Hit in Drone Attack

Meanwhile, Ukraine also launched over 100 drones, targeting multiple locations inside Russia, including a key oil refinery in Volgograd.

Russian officials, including Volgograd Governor Andrei Bocharov, confirmed that falling drone debris triggered a fire in the Krasnoarmeysky district, close to the Lukoil oil refinery. The Volgograd refinery has been a frequent target of Ukrainian attacks, with a similar drone strike reported on February 15.

Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that 126 Ukrainian drones were intercepted, including 64 over Volgograd, as well as in the Voronezh, Belgorod, Bryansk, Rostov, and Kursk regions.

“Both sides are engaged in relentless drone warfare, inflicting serious damage on infrastructure,” said military analysts, emphasizing that the battlefield situation remains extremely volatile.

Will Peace Talks Succeed?

While diplomatic pressure mounts on Russia to agree to a ceasefire, Putin’s strategic calculations remain unclear. His continued territorial advances suggest that he may seek more leverage before entering serious negotiations.

With European nations stepping up their support for Ukraine, Trump’s evolving stance, and Starmer’s efforts to rally Western allies, the coming weeks will be pivotal in determining whether peace can be achieved or if the war will intensify further.

One thing remains clear: without a firm and enforceable agreement, the violence and destruction will continue, leaving millions of Ukrainians caught in the crossfire.