'Aggressor' Putin blocking Ukraine peace, says Starmer rejecting Trump's attack on Zelensky

Britain said Vladimir Putin is the “obstacle” to peace in Ukraine, in a flat rejection of Donald Trump seeking to blame Volodymr Zelensky.

After another deadly attack on Kyiv, Sir Keir Starmer said: "I think it's a real reminder that Russia is the aggressor here and that is being felt by the Ukrainians, as it has been felt for three long years now.

"That's why it's important to get Russia to an unconditional ceasefire.”

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman condemned the latest “barbaric” attack by Russia on Kyiv, and said Ukraine had shown a “clear commitment to peace”.

He stressed the a peace deal could only be struck through negotiations with Ukraine “at the heart” of them.

He stated: “Overnight you have seen yet more barbaric attacks from Russia...Kyiv overnight...which demonstrates where the real obstacle is.

“Ukraine has demonstrated a clear commitment to peace.”

Earlier, ex-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps slammed Trump as a ‘swaggering bully’ who is choosing ‘tyranny over democracy’ on Ukraine.

The former Cabinet minister said he felt “sick” at Trump’s approach to trying to end the conflict which Putin launched more than three years ago.

He accused Trump of seeming to be “in cahoots” with Putin and giving in to his demands and that his plan would not lead to a “free and comfortable peace”.

He spoke out after Trump accused Mr Zelensky of prolonging the “killing field” after he pushed back on ceding Crimea to Russia as part a potential peace plan.

The US president lashed out at his Ukrainian counterpart, saying his insistence he would not recognise Russian ownership of Crimea was making it "difficult to settle" the war.

The Kremlin said Russia is continuing to work with the US on Trump’s peace plan, while launching another deadly attack on Kyiv.

But Trump turned his criticism on Putin on Thursday after Russia pounded Ukraine’s capital with missiles and drones overnight, saying "Vladimir, STOP!"

"I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing," Trump wrote in a social media post.

The US administration is urging Kyiv to accept Russia's continued control of occupied Ukrainian regions and to accept Moscow's ownership of the Crimean peninsula as part of a peace settlement.

But Mr Zelensky has reportedly rebuffed suggestions he could cede Crimea to Moscow.

Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday: “Mr Zelensky’s statement will do nothing but prolong the ‘killing field,’ and nobody wants that! We are very close to a Deal, but the man with “no cards to play” should now, finally, Get it done ,” he added.

The Russian president has reportedly discussed halting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the current front lines, as Mr Zelensky said Kyiv was ready for talks with Russia “in any format” once a ceasefire is set.

Both sides are trying to demonstrate progress towards ending Russia’s war in Ukraine after the US President said he could walk away from efforts to make peace if there is no breakthrough.

The White House said Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff will again travel to Russia later this week to hold talks with Putin.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the Financial Times reported that Putin discussed at a meeting with Mr Witkoff in St Petersburg this month to halt Russia’s invasion across the front line and relinquish its claims to full control of four Ukrainian regions.

Russia only partially controls Ukraine’s Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions it claimed as its own during the full-scale invasion.

Putin’s forces have been gaining territory but suffering heavy losses.