Starmer Questions Putin’s Intentions on Ceasefire

According to the reports on Thursday (27 March), Keir Starmer has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of making empty promises regarding a ceasefire in Ukraine. At a summit in Paris, co-hosted with French President Emmanuel Macron, Starmer and other European leaders are discussing strategies to prevent future Russian aggression. The meeting, dubbed the “coalition of the willing,” follows a recent agreement for a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, though Starmer warns that Putin is not acting in good faith. He emphasized that while progress has been made, maintaining momentum is crucial for achieving lasting peace.

Despite the ceasefire agreement, tensions remain high as Russia demands the lifting of Western sanctions before fully implementing the deal. The Kremlin insists on reconnecting Russian banks to the SWIFT payment system and easing trade restrictions on agricultural products. However, the European Union has firmly rejected these conditions, stating that sanctions will remain until Russia withdraws from Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has acknowledged Moscow’s requests, but any decision on easing sanctions would require European approval, which remains unlikely.

French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested that a European force deployed to Ukraine could respond militarily if attacked by Russia. This has raised concerns about potential direct clashes between NATO forces and Russian troops. Moscow has strongly opposed such a move, with the Russian Foreign Ministry warning that any deployment under the guise of peacekeeping could escalate tensions. European officials, however, argue that Ukraine’s first line of defense should remain its own military, with external forces providing support rather than direct intervention.

The dispute over SWIFT access highlights broader geopolitical concerns, as Russia seeks to weaken the EU’s sanctions framework. Some European diplomats worry that concessions, even minor ones, could undermine the West’s united stance against Russia. Hungary has been vocal in advocating for sanctions relief, complicating EU negotiations. Meanwhile, analysts suggest the U.S. could bypass SWIFT restrictions by allowing Russian banks to trade in dollars under U.S. jurisdiction, though this would be slow and cumbersome. Ultimately, the EU remains firm in its stance, unwilling to modify sanctions without significant Russian concessions.

References

• Starmer Says Putin Cannot Be Trusted as European Leaders Discuss Ukraine Ceasefire Plans
• The EU does not intend to change the sanctions regime against the Russian Federation against the background of Moscow’s demands for SWIFT – Euractiv
• Starmer accuses Putin of hollow promises on ceasefire