The willing accelerate on arms. Starmer: Putin does not want peace

Yesterday, however, the Ukrainian president emphasised the importance of the political decision to move towards the release of assets: 'This is a very positive step, which will be followed by a practical decision within the year and then implementation early next year'.

Prior to the meeting of the coalition of allies Starmer had welcomed Zelensky to Downing Street for face-to-face talks and reiterated his 'absolute commitment' to combating Russian aggression. 'We can do more, especially on long-range capabilities, and intensify the pressure on President Putin, who clearly does not want peace,' Starmer said. Britain will accelerate arms deliveries and provide five thousand extra missiles to reinforce Ukrainian anti-aircraft guns. Italy is also finalising its twelfth military aid package to Ukraine.

Zelensky, who had been received by King Charles III at Windsor Castle in the morning, thanked Britain 'for its support since the beginning of the war but especially now, which is very important'. Putin continues to target the country's civilian population and critical infrastructure and is pushing Ukraine towards 'a humanitarian disaster', Zelensky said. Ukraine is heading for its fourth winter of war and 'the Russians want to use the cold as a tool of terror to break us,' the president stressed.

The US is hesitant to supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles but has imposed sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. Allies of the coalition of the willing have repeatedly emphasised the importance of close coordination between Europe and the US. "President Trump is determined to end the war and bring Ukraine to a lasting peace," Rutte said yesterday, "while Putin is running out of money, soldiers and ideas." Zelensky thanked the US president for the new sanctions against Russia. "We still hope to have the Tomahawks," the Ukrainian president reiterated, however.