Starmer Hails 30-Day Ukraine Ceasefire Agreement in Jeddah, Plans Saturday Meeting with Leaders

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has congratulated US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following an agreement reached in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The agreement involves a 30-day ceasefire proposal between Ukraine and Russia, with the ball now in Russia's court to reciprocate. Starmer emphasized the importance of this moment for peace in Ukraine and called for redoubled efforts to secure a lasting peace. He announced plans to convene a meeting with world leaders on Saturday to discuss the next steps in the peace process. Behind the scenes, Starmer's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, played a crucial role in facilitating the agreement. Powell, along with US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and German and French officials, worked to draft the ceasefire proposal, which was accepted by Ukraine and presented to Russia.