British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to commit to an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, stating that if the Kremlin is “serious about peace,” it must stop its delays and continued attacks.

Starmer made the remarks during a virtual meeting on Saturday with the “coalition of the willing”, a group of around 25 countries working to support Ukraine. The meeting, which included European leaders such as France and Italy, as well as representatives from NATO and the European Commission, focused on discussing the latest ceasefire proposal and increasing military support for Kyiv.

Starmer Presses for Concrete Action

Speaking to world leaders, Starmer criticized Russia’s response to the latest U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, which has already been backed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He argued that Putin’s hesitation and ongoing assaults contradict Russia’s claims of seeking peace.

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

He also stressed that the West cannot afford to wait for Putin to negotiate. “My feeling is that sooner or later he’s going to have to come to the table, but we can’t simply sit back and wait for that to happen,” he said.

Instead, Starmer urged allies to strengthen Ukraine’s defense, including increased military aid, financial support, and weapons provisions to help Kyiv resist Russian advances.

US Absence and Changing Approach

Notably, the United States did not participate in Saturday’s meeting. Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Washington has taken a different stance on the war, with Trump prioritizing negotiations rather than direct military support.

This shift became evident after Trump’s February 28 Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy, where tensions between the two leaders surfaced. While Trump’s administration has proposed the ceasefire, it has also pushed for Ukraine to make significant concessions—a position that has divided Western allies.

Putin’s Reluctance and Ongoing Attacks

While Putin has indicated he is open to a truce, he has also outlined a series of conditions that remain unclear and unresolved. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed “cautious optimism” that an agreement could be reached, but Starmer has warned that Putin is playing “pointless games” with Trump’s proposal.

Meanwhile, the war continues unabated, with Russia launching intense aerial attacks on Ukraine overnight. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia fired 178 drones and two ballistic missiles, targeting energy infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions.

Ukraine’s private energy company DTEK confirmed that Russian strikes caused significant damage, leaving residents without electricity.

Heavy Drone Strikes on Both Sides

In response, Ukraine launched drone attacks on Russia’s Volgograd region, where debris reportedly sparked a fire near a Lukoil oil refinery. The refinery has been targeted multiple times by Ukraine in recent months.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, 126 Ukrainian drones were shot down, including 64 over Volgograd. Ukraine, meanwhile, managed to neutralize 130 Russian drones out of 178 launched.

What’s Next?

As Ukraine faces increased military pressure, European nations—led by Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron—are stepping up their efforts to maintain support for Kyiv. The latest meeting signaled a growing European commitment to self-defense, with some countries considering increased defense spending.

With Putin showing no immediate willingness to halt attacks, Western leaders will now focus on whether a ceasefire deal can be enforced, or if military aid to Ukraine must be ramped up to counter Russia’s advances.