UK says 'number of options' on table for Ukraine peace

The United Kingdom, France and other countries are looking at a number of options to end Russia's war against Ukraine, a spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer says, after French President Emmanuel Macron proposed a limited initial one-month truce.

Macron said on Sunday that his idea was for a one-month ceasefire in the air, at sea and on energy infrastructure.

"There are clearly a number of options on the table," Starmer's spokesman said on Monday when asked about that proposal.

"I'm just not getting into a running commentary on the options."

But Starmer is clear that any peace deal "must be lasting, it must be durable, it must ensure that Ukraine has got significant defensive capabilities," he said.

Starmer convened a summit of European leaders over the weekend as allies scramble to find a way forward following the Oval Office row between US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

"Every nation must contribute to that in the best way that it can, bringing different capabilities and support to the table, but all taking responsibility to act, all stepping up their own share of the burden," he said.

Starmer said he had worked with France and Ukraine on a plan to end the war and that the group of leaders - mostly from Europe - had agreed on four things.

The steps toward peace would keep aid flowing to Ukraine, maintain economic pressure on Russia, make sure Ukraine is at the bargaining table and any peace deal must ensure its sovereignty and security and also continue to arm Ukraine to deter future invasion.

UK armed forces minister Luke Pollard also said various options are on the table but insisted no plan has been agreed.

Asked whether UK troops could be sent to Ukraine with or without a US guarantee, Pollard said: "Military deployments are possible. But the point is, we want a durable and lasting peace.

Ukraine is fighting for the normal and safe life it deserves, for a just and reliable peace. We want this war to end. But Russia does not, and continues its aerial terror: over the past week, more than 1,050 attack drones, nearly 1,300 aerial bombs, and more than 20 missiles have? pic.twitter.com/OkZMY9hhgT? Volodymyr Zelenskyy / ????????? ?????????? (@ZelenskyyUa) March 3, 2025

Zelenskiy said that a deal to end the war between Ukraine and Russia "is still very, very far away," adding that he expects to keep receiving US support despite his recent fraught relations with Trump.

"I think our relationship (with the US) will continue, because it's more than an occasional relationship," Zelenskiy said.

"I believe that Ukraine has a strong enough partnership with the United States of America" to keep aid flowing, he said at a briefing in Ukrainian before leaving London.

Trump responded angrily to the report quoting Zelenskiy as saying the end of the war is "very, very far away".

"This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"It is what I was saying, this guy doesn't want there to be Peace as long as he has America's backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S."

Key to the discussions, led by the US and France, has been an insistence on the inclusion of a US backstop as part of any peacekeeping deal in order to deter future Russian aggression.

The US has not yet committed to providing any such security guarantee, which the UK sees as essential to ensuring a "durable and lasting" ceasefire.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey is expected to visit the US later this week to move discussions forward, with military delegates and other officials also due to fly over to the country.

with PA and AP