Foreign Secretary David Lammy told MPs G7 leaders will continue to turn the screws on Russia’s war machine and said they are not waiting on the Kremlin to reach a peace deal
The world’s most powerful nations are ready to turn the screws to force Vladimir Putin to negotiate peace, MPs were told.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the Commons that the West has “more cards that we can play” to force the Russian dictator to the table. Mr Lammy, who met with counterparts from the G7 – the world’s biggest economies – last week, said Putin is currently showing “no sign” that he is serious about a peace deal.
It comes as No10 said more than 30 countries have pledged to support a “coalition of the willing” to keep the peace if a deal is reached. Keir Starmer is understood to be ready to commit thousands of British troops for years to prevent Russia striking again.
US President Donald Trump is set to speak to Putin this week to push for a ceasefire. Ukraine has agreed to stop the fighting if Russia does too, but Putin has put forward a string of conditions – including keeping partially seized territories.
Addressing MPs, Mr Lammy said: “My warning to Mr Putin is this: If you are serious, prove it with a full and unconditional ceasefire now.
“And if Putin does not deliver, and I must tell the House that I currently see no sign yet that he is, the G7 meeting helped us ready the tools to get Russia to negotiate seriously.
“We are not waiting for the Kremlin. If they reject a ceasefire, we have more cards that we can play.”
The Foreign Secretary said the G7 had discussed ways to further squeeze Russia’s energy and defence sectors, taking away oil revenues, and using frozen Russian assets.
On Thursday defence chiefs will meet in London to discuss the logistics of a peacekeeping force. The PM has repeatedly pledged to put British boots on the ground to enforce a peace deal if one is reached – as long as the US provides a security guarantee.
It is believed around 30,000 troops could be sent by participating nations, but the UK has yet to say how many would be British. And Mr Starmer is yet to say whether British soldiers will be permitted to fire at Russian forces if they attack.
An insider said: “It would be a long-term commitment, we are talking about years. As long as it takes to preserve a peace deal and deter Russia.”
The Prime Minister’s spokesman told reporters on Monday: “The Prime Minister said over the weekend, there’s going to be different capabilities from different countries, but these are now the operational discussions that are ongoing in relation to what the coalition of the willing will be able to provide.
“We’re expecting more than 30 countries to be involved. Obviously the contribution capabilities will vary, but this will be a significant force, with a significant number of countries providing troops and a larger group contributing in other ways.”
On Saturday the PM confirmed planning for European peacekeeping forces are entering an “operational” phase. Despite Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky accepting the proposed unconditional ceasefire, Putin has said Ukraine must agree to give up ambitions of joining Nato and surrender territory fo Russia before there will be any pause in the bloodshed.
Mr Starmer has accused Putin of looking to “delay” a ceasefire, while French president Emmanuel Macron said the Russian leader “does not seem to be sincerely seeking peace.”