British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a strong warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, insisting he “must pay the price for avoiding peace” as European leaders gather for a key summit in Albania.
The statement comes ahead of the European Political Community (EPC) meeting in the capital Tirana on Friday, where 27 EU nations and 20 other countries are expected to ramp up diplomatic pressure on Moscow amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Putin’s tactics of dither and delay, while continuing to kill and cause bloodshed across Ukraine, are intolerable,” Starmer said, condemning Russia’s failure to engage meaningfully in peace efforts.
His comments come on the same day as separate peace talks are scheduled to take place between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul. However, neither President Putin nor Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend the negotiations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already expressed doubts over the likelihood of a breakthrough.
The EPC, first launched by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, aims to strengthen Europe’s response to geopolitical crises and coordinate sanctions and security efforts.
According to Downing Street, the summit will focus on “piling the pressure on the Kremlin,” especially after reports that Putin had avoided US-arranged peace talks in Istanbul just a day earlier.
“A full, unconditional ceasefire must be agreed and if Russia is unwilling to come to the negotiating table, Putin must pay the price,” Starmer added.
Sanctions are expected to be a focal point of the discussions, particularly targeting Russian energy exports. Both the EU and UK announced fresh sanctions this week aimed at Russia’s so-called “shadow” oil fleet, used to circumvent international restrictions.
The latest coordinated measures are designed to further isolate Russia’s economy and limit its ability to fund the war, as the conflict in Ukraine continues with no clear end in sight.
