Keir Starmer warns Putin must 'pay the price' after shameful peace talk snub
Keir Starmer has said Vladimir Putin must "pay the price for dodging peace" as European leaders seek to turn the screws on his war machine.
The Prime Minister will meet dozens of his counterparts in Albanian capital Tirana today after the Russian leader refused to attend peace talks with Ukraine. Representatives from around 40 nations will look at ways to toughen sanctions against Moscow at the European Political Community summit.
The Russian economy is in serious trouble after a wave of sanctions, with its non-defence sector in recession, and Mr Starmer called on Europe to go further. He said: 'People in Ukraine and across the world have paid the price for Putin's aggression in Ukraine and across Europe, now he must pay the price for avoiding peace.
'Putin's tactics to dither and delay, while continuing to kill and cause bloodshed across Ukraine, is intolerable. For the past three years, Ukraine has been fighting for peace and security, while Russia has sent thousands of young men and women to their deaths and compromised global stability.
'Alongside the US and more than 30 other partners, we have been clear that we will not stand for Russia kicking a ceasefire down the road. A full, unconditional ceasefire must be agreed and if Russia is unwilling to come to the negotiating table, Putin must pay the price.'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to join leaders for the crucial summit. Mr Starmer is making a two-day trip to the Balkan state, becoming the first UK leader to make an official visit.
No10 said leaders will discuss further sanctions agaiunst Russia - with focus on energy revenues. Europe will look at oil exports, the Kremlin's biggest source of tax revenues. Further measures are likely to cause "further pain", with revenues already a third lower than they were in 2022 thanks to Western sanctions.
Putin angered world leaders by failing to turn up to peace talks in Turkey on Thursday. Mr Zelensky had called for a face-to-face meeting with the Russian leader, their first since the invasion in 2022.
Mr Starmer will lead a security roundtable with the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson. He will also speak to leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Ukraine about latest efforts with the US to end the bloodshed.
It comes after Mr Starmer last week announced the UK's largest ever package of sanctions on Russia's Shadow Fleet. The sanctions will apply further pressure on the Russian economy.
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