UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has emphasized that Ukraine must be central to any peace negotiations with Russia ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump this week.

Starmer's remarks, made in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, highlight the UK’s position on safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty and preventing further Russian aggression.

Starmer is expected to push for stronger defense commitments and an increased UK defense spending target of 2.5% of GDP during his discussions with Trump.

The meeting, described as a significant diplomatic test for Starmer, comes amidst tensions over the handling of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In addition, the UK is preparing to announce new sanctions against Russia and continue providing military support to Ukraine.

Starmer also plans to engage with European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to coordinate a unified approach.

The meeting follows Trump’s recent controversial statements regarding Zelenskyy’s role in peace talks, which have sparked further debate over US policy on Ukraine.