Sir Keir Starmer led calls to force Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table after Europe’s historic White House diplomacy put the ball back in the Russian dictator’s court.

The Prime Minister suggested possible sanctions for Putin after co-chairing a virtual Coalition of the Willing meeting, debriefing their day trip to Washington DC and planning for the future.

Trump’s warning to Russia

US President Donald Trump also warned of a ‘rough situation’ if Moscow does not make peace as he pushed for Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to meet Putin in Switzerland in the next two weeks.

Putin is promised full immunity if he makes the trip to Switzerland.

A Downing Street spokesman said last night: ‘The leaders discussed how further pressure – including through sanctions – could be placed on Putin until he showed he was ready to take serious action to end his illegal invasion.’

German chancellor Friedrich Merz laid down the gauntlet to the Kremlin over any potential talks, saying: ‘We don’t know whether the Russian president will have the courage to attend such a summit.’

Hinting at more sanctions as Russia again barraged Ukrainian cities with 270 drones and ten missiles in an overnight attack, he added: ‘Therefore, persuasion is needed.’

Zelensky hopes to have such a proposal in writing within the next ten days to strengthen his hand before heading to any meeting with Putin to discuss territory.