Camilla Jessen
As peace talks open without Putin or Zelensky, the UK and EU signal tougher sanctions.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called out Russian President Vladimir Putin for continuing to stall peace efforts in Ukraine, saying the Kremlin leader “must pay the price for his refusal to make peace.”
Ahead of Friday’s European Political Community (EPC) summit in Albania, Starmer condemned Russia’s ongoing military aggression and warned that Moscow would face stronger consequences if it doesn’t accept a ceasefire soon.
“Putin’s tactics of stalling and delaying things, continuing to kill and cause bloodshed throughout Ukraine, are intolerable,” Starmer said, according to comments reported by AFP and Agerpres.
Summit Pressure Builds as Talks Begin in Istanbul
The Tirana summit brings together leaders from the EU and 20 other European nations, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expected to attend.
Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian delegations are set to meet for direct talks in Istanbul on May 16 — but without either Putin or Zelensky at the table.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced doubts about the talks on Thursday, saying they are unlikely to succeed unless both presidents are directly involved.
Despite the uncertainty, Kyiv’s allies plan to use the summit in Albania to explore new ways to “increase pressure on the Kremlin,” especially after what UK officials described as Putin’s evasion of earlier US-backed peace efforts.
New Sanctions Loom
Starmer reiterated the UK’s call for a total and unconditional ceasefire and warned that Moscow could soon face expanded penalties.
If Russia cannot come to the negotiating table, then Putin must pay the price for that.
He adds that London is considering a “vast campaign of sanctions” against Russia’s energy sector in the coming weeks — a move also backed by France.
These measures would build on recent EU and UK action targeting Russia’s “ghost fleet” of oil tankers, which Moscow reportedly uses to export oil and gas while avoiding current sanctions.