UK PM Optimistic Zelenskyy-Putin Meeting To Be Realized Soon

JAKARTA - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the meeting at the White House between US President Donald Trump and Europe resulted in progress towards the two most desirable goals achieved by the United Kingdom.

First, Starmer said the meeting on Monday local time resulted in a "bove" in security guarantees.

"That will ensure if there is peace then we will obey it," he said as quoted by CNN, Tuesday, August 19.

Second, Starmer said there would soon be a bilateral meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to be attended by a trilateral summit between the two leaders along with US President Donald Trump.

"That is very important because it is a real acknowledgment of the principle that no decision on Ukraine can be taken without Ukraine," said Starmer.

However, the exact form of security guarantees being discussed is still unclear.

US envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN on Sunday Washington managed to get concessions from Moscow during Friday's summit in Alaska, with the Kremlin allowing the US and Europe to provide protection to Ukraine, but not to accept NATO's full membership principles.

Analysts say it is unclear why the US needs Russian permission to provide Ukraine with this protection.

Nigel Gould-Davies, senior researcher at the Institute of International for Strategic Studies, told CNN Witkoff's position was "very weak and vulnerable."

Regarding the possibility of a Zelenskyy-Putin summit, the Kremlin also expressed objections.

The Kremlin said it was ready to increase the level of representation in negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, but did not say Putin and Zelenskyy would meet.