‘Coalition of the Willing’ leaders discuss potential further sanctions pressure on Russia

“Turning to next steps, the Prime Minister outlined that Coalition of the Willing planning teams would meet their US counterparts in the coming days to strengthen plans for security guarantees and prepare for a reassurance force if the hostilities ended,” the spokesperson said, according to CNN.

The spokesperson added that leaders also discussed “how further pressure including through sanctions could be placed on Putin until he showed he was ready to take serious action to end his invasion”.

Downing Street described Monday’s talks in Washington as “constructive,” with Starmer saying there was “a real sense of unity and a shared goal of securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine”.

Meanwhile, Costa told reporters from Lisbon that Europe must be part of any negotiations alongside Ukraine, Russia and the United States.

“There is still much to be done and there are no guarantees of success,” Costa told Reuters, but added that the possibility of a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin was “in itself fairly positive”.