UK, Ukraine leaders discuss ceasefire efforts, multinational force in call

LONDON

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday held a phone call to discuss ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine, including plans to deploy a multinational force following a potential ceasefire.

In a statement, the British prime minister’s office said both leaders welcomed the United States’ continued push for a “just and lasting peace” and agreed that “no party wanted that more than Ukraine.”

During the call, Starmer welcomed national security adviser-level talks taking place in Kyiv and said he looked forward to leaders advancing that work at a meeting in Paris on Tuesday.

Zelenskyy also described the conversation as “good,” saying the discussions covered the talks in Kyiv and broader diplomatic efforts.

“I also discussed with Keir the need for a fair decision regarding the frozen proceeds from the sale of Chelsea -- £2.5 billion that can and must significantly help protect lives and support Ukraine’s recovery after all the Russian strikes,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on the US social media platform X.

Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said earlier Saturday that Ukrainian officials had begun joint work in Kyiv with national security advisers from several European countries who arrived in the capital for talks aimed at ending the war.

According to the UK statement, the discussions included steps to ensure a multinational force could deploy to Ukraine in the days following a ceasefire.

Starmer also welcomed the appointment of Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov as head of Ukraine’s Office of the President and said his team looked forward to working closely with him.