British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Western allies' readiness, aside from the U.S., to support any peace agreement for Ukraine. Speaking in Paris, he emphasized unity in bolstering Ukraine's security to prevent future threats.

The prime minister accused Vladimir Putin of "playing games and playing for time" after the Russian president demanded sanctions were lifted before a US-brokered maritime ceasefire is enacted.

Russia is stalling progress towards a peace deal in Ukraine, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday after a meeting with Western allies in Paris, adding that now was not the right time to lift sanctions against Moscow.