𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Vladimir Putin must agree to an “immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire” and end the war in Ukraine, David Lammy has declared. The Foreign Secretary, speaking after meeting counterparts from the US and Europe, insisted “we must see a just and lasting peace”.

It comes as the peace process hangs in the balance, with the US warning they could walk away from trying to broker a deal with Moscow within days. The Foreign Secretary travelled to Paris for the first high-level discussions between British, French and White House officials since Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron separately visited Washington in February.

The Foreign Secretary said: “In a volatile world, unity is our strength.

“Today’s meetings with France, the US, Ukraine, and Germany underscore our shared commitment to global security.

“We must see a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and stability in the Middle East.”

He added: “We are working hard with allies to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine.

“Russia must agree to an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire as Ukraine has done.”

Talks about a possible peace have faltered since Moscow rejected a ceasefire proposal that had been agreed by the US and Ukraine last month.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Donald Trump is still interested in a peace deal – but could walk away if there is no progress.

Mr Rubio said: “We’re not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end. So, we need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks.

“If it is, we’re in. If it’s not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well.”

Mr Rubio also said he hoped Europeans would remain engaged in US-led talks towards a Ukraine ceasefire.

He said: “We’d like them to remain engaged … I think the UK and France and Germany can help us move the ball on this and then get this closer to a resolution. I thought they were very helpful and constructive with their ideas,” he told reporters at Le Bourget airport, as he was leaving the French capital.

Mr Rubio’s comments came after Ukraine announced that it had signed the outline of a deal that would give the US access to its mineral wealth and set up a reconstruction fund.

The US president said on Thursday that he felt a ceasefire was “close”, and that Moscow was set to get back to him regarding a recent proposal imminently.

Delegations from Germany and Ukraine, including the country’s foreign minister Andriy Sybiga and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, were also in Paris, as well as Mr Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Meanwhile, the UK and France have been seeking to assemble a coalition of nations that would be willing to defend a truce if one is reached.

Following the talks, Mr Zelensky said it was “important that we hear each other, refine, and clarify our positions and work for the sake of real security of Ukraine and all our Europe”.

“I spoke for the second time today with the president of France Emmanuel Macron,” he said.

“I am grateful to Emmanuel for his leadership and for today’s work in Paris by our representatives – Ukraine, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States.

“It is important that we hear each other, refine and clarify our positions, and work for the sake of real security of Ukraine and all our Europe.”

On Thursday night, Mr Trump revealed a minerals deal will be signed next week.

Ukraine’s economy minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in a post on X that a memorandum of intent with the US has been signed, paving the way for an economic partnership agreement between the two nations.

She said a final deal would also involve an investment fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine. US officials expressed hope that an accord could be completed by the end of next week.

Mr Trump, speaking at the White House, suggested the deal would be signed next week. He added: “We have a minerals deal which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday … next Thursday. Soon. And I assume they’re going to live up to the deal. So we’ll see. But we have a deal on that.”

Ms Svyrydenko shared photos of the document signing with herself in one image and US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent in the second.

The pair put pen to paper via an online call.

“This document is the result of the professional work of the negotiating teams, which recently completed another round of technical discussions in Washington,” Ukraine’s economy minister admitted.

“Ahead is the finalisation of the text of the Agreement and its signing and then, ratification by parliaments.

“It is very important that the document notes the desire of the American people to invest together with the Ukrainian people in a free, sovereign, and secure Ukraine.”