UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was caught off guard by US media reports suggesting Ukraine has accepted a Trump-brokered peace plan. Speaking in the House of Commons on November 25, Starmer clarified that so far, discussions have been mainly between Ukraine and the United States, and Europe has not presented a rival plan.
Starmer stressed that Ukraine’s sovereignty and voice must remain central to any peace deal. He also highlighted the UK’s commitment to support Ukraine’s defence, ensure strong security guarantees, and advance a just and lasting peace.
00:00Thank you Mr Speaker, and with permission I will update the House on my recent international engagements
00:07and our work to strengthen the security of our continent and our economy.
00:12Starting Mr Speaker with the situation in Ukraine, which of course is at the forefront of all of our minds.
00:20Over recent days I have had detailed discussions with allies, I met the partners of the Coalition of the Willing during the G20,
00:29and I have spoken a number of times to both President Trump and President Zelensky, who I spoke to again earlier this morning.
00:38Mr Speaker, we are united in wanting a ceasefire and a permanent end to the horrendous suffering that this war has brought to Ukraine.
00:48I have always said our aim must be a just and lasting peace, and both of those words, Mr Speaker, are important, just and lasting.
01:00So, Mr Speaker, I welcome the continued efforts of the United States to end the war and stop the killing.
01:07The initial draft of the 28-point plan included points that were not acceptable, but also some very important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace.
01:21For example, it sets out steps on security guarantees from the U.S. and partners.
01:28This is very significant, and the discussions in Geneva took important steps forward with progress between the U.S. and Ukraine on an updated peace framework.
01:40I can reassure the House that that work is ongoing to refine this plan.
01:45Mr Speaker, we are clear about the fundamental principles here.
01:50That Ukraine's sovereignty must be maintained.
01:53That Ukraine should be able to defend herself in future.
01:58And that matters about Ukraine and its future must be determined by Ukraine.
02:06We are clear their voice must always be at the heart of the process.
02:10And elements relating to Europe and NATO will need the consent of Europe and NATO members.
02:17So, there is still a long way to go and a tough road ahead, but we are more committed than ever to this cause and to keeping pushing forward on this process.
02:30And that is why, Mr Speaker, later this afternoon, President Macron, Chancellor Mertz and I will convene the Coalition of the Willing, which now has 36 members,
02:42to discuss how we can advance the peace process and to discuss how we can continue to keep Ukraine in the fight right now.
02:51Because, Mr Speaker, Ukraine continues to hold the line.
02:55They continue to mount a fearless defence of their country.
02:59And they deserve not just our respect, but our help and our support.
03:05After all, it is not just our values that are at risk here.
03:10It is our security too.
03:13In addition to targeting energy and food prices, Putin continues to seek to undermine our security.
03:21Including, Mr Speaker, by sending Russian ships into our waters.
03:26The Royal Navy intercepted two Russian ships in our waters in the last two weeks.
03:31So let me assure the House, we are more ready and determined than ever to protect our territory and protect the British people.
03:41As we work towards that end, we will never let up on the support that Ukraine needs.
03:48The vital defensive capabilities it needs to protect its people.
03:53And the economic pressure that we must continue to mount on Russia to cut off the fuel to their war machine.
04:02Mr Speaker, the urgent need to take Russian oil and gas off the global market was something I discussed extensively at the G20.
04:11This is vital, especially now, as winter begins to bite in Ukraine.
04:17And Putin continues his barbaric attacks on civilians and civilian energy infrastructure.
04:24Mr Speaker, the House will recall that it was when the global financial crisis struck that the G20 showed its full potential.
04:32When my predecessor, Gordon Brown, marshaled a global response to that crisis to protect the savings and finances of the British people.
04:41And so, in this moment of growing fragility and crisis around the world, it is time once again to take a more purposeful, unified approach.
04:52Focused on global growth and stability.
04:56I called for a response based on the right balance of investment and fiscal discipline, open markets, reforming the global trading system and tackling the cost of living crisis.
05:07That approach was echoed by the leaders' declaration from Johannesburg.
05:13Mr Speaker, I am also pleased to say that the summit confirmed that the UK will take on the presidency of the G20 in 2027.
05:24The first time it has returned to the UK since 2009.
05:29It will be a proud moment for our country, part of our work to restore Britain's international leadership, which was neglected for so long.
05:38And we will use that presidency to drive the agenda that I have been talking about today, to drive growth and opportunity, to create jobs, cut the cost of living and fundamentally strengthen the economic security of the British people.
05:53That is what we are doing at home and abroad.
05:56And I commend this statement to the House.
05:59Mr Speaker, on the text of the agreement that is being worked on in Geneva, there was an intensive discussion about this, as she would have expected at the G20, involving a number of key allies, both the E3 plus key coalition-willing allies.
06:20And the strong consensus was that we should work with the text that is in existence, unacceptable, although some parts of it are, because other parts are essential, rather than a different text.
06:31And that is the process that is going on in Geneva.
06:33And I think that is the right approach.
06:35Mr Speaker, will the Prime Minister also offer his support, and that of the Coalition of Willing, to join President Zelensky for any future negotiations with President Trump?
06:46So President Zelensky doesn't have to suffer the indignity of being bullied by Trump on his own once again, and so that Europe can show a strong and united stand.
06:56Certainly, I'll make a point this afternoon that the Coalition of Willing of expressing how united this House is in relation to the key principles.
07:05In relation to her point about President Zelensky, we are, I think, the closest ally of Ukraine in terms of respected and trusted.
07:17And that is why not only have I spoken intensively and extensively to President Zelensky over many, many months and years, but in particular over the last few days, a number of times, sometimes a day, including this morning, in order to do what we can to guide this into the right place.
07:36Mr Speaker, I thank once more the Prime Minister for his insisting support for Ukraine and that nothing can be done for Ukraine without Ukraine.
07:48In the last few moments, media sources in the US have reported that Ukraine has agreed to the peace proposal brokered by the Trump administration.
07:59I know the Prime Minister will not have the detail of that, but if this is the case, I know we're in a statement now.
08:04Will he come back and give the House the full details of what has been agreed by Ukraine, the US and potentially Russia?
08:12Yes, of course I will.
08:16From my discussions with President Zelensky this morning, I'll need to look precisely at that.
08:24But I suspect it won't be the whole of the agreement that needs to be reached because, obviously, discussions so far have been predominantly Ukraine-US.
08:34Obviously, there are European elements that are important, NATO elements that are important, that need further discussions.
08:41And, of course, none of this has been back to the Russian side yet.
08:47So I'll have a look at the report and look behind the headline.
08:50If there is anything material to report, I'll, of course, do it.
08:53My own sense is that it will probably be progress on the Geneva exercise rather than the agreement of all elements.
09:11There are two banks, including all elements that are organized by Ukraine, to
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