British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, July 10, called for more pressure in the form of fresh sanctions against Moscow to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine. The two leaders, co-chairing from the UK a video-conference meeting of the so-called "coalition of the willing," also said plans for a post-ceasefire peacekeeping force for Ukraine were ready. "We should shift our work for preparing for peace, making it happen by forcing Putin to the table... this coordinated pressure will make a difference," said Starmer.
Macron, calling for allies to "step up the pressure on Russia," added "we clearly need something new... to step up the pressure on Russia." What was needed, he said, was "something that can modify the pressure on the Russian economy." The two leaders were speaking from a British military base in Northwood, northwest London, used by NATO as a command center.
They were joined from Rome by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, while other European leaders dialed in from elsewhere. In his remarks, Zelensky said it was "obvious to all partners that Russia is blocking all peace efforts," as he urged fresh sanctions on Moscow.
Discussing the planned peacekeeping force, Macron said: "We have a plan that is ready to go and initiate in the hours after a ceasefire." Starmer confirmed that, saying "these plans are mature and we are putting them on a long-term footing."