Ukraine's Allies Push for Peace Amidst Russia's Ambiguous Response

The UK's Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has expressed dissatisfaction with Russia's response to a ceasefire proposal in Ukraine. He hosted a virtual summit with allies to discuss the situation. The meeting included 25 countries, including European nations, the EU Commission, NATO, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The summit aimed to pressure Russia into accepting the ceasefire proposal. Putin's response was seen as ambiguous, with him agreeing to the proposal but also stating that it was incomplete. This comes at a critical time in the conflict, with Russia making advances in the Kursk border region. The summit took place as Russia is attempting to reverse Ukraine's gains in the Kursk region. Starmer announced that militaries of Ukraine's allies will meet in the UK to plan for peace. The allies agreed to continue military aid to Ukraine and tighten restrictions on Russia's economy. Starmer emphasized that Ukraine is the party seeking peace and that Putin's delaying tactics are hindering progress. The US has offered a path to peace, and Starmer stressed the importance of working with the US to achieve it. The summit also highlighted divisions among European countries regarding troop deployment to Ukraine. The "coalition of the willing" met to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The coalition includes countries that have pledged to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression. The summit comes as Europe faces divisions over troop deployment to Ukraine. Italy, for instance, has stated that it does not plan to participate in a possible military presence in Ukraine. The situation in Kursk is critical, with Russia retaking settlements and Ukraine denying Russian claims of surrounding Ukrainian troops. Meanwhile, aerial assaults continue, with Russia firing drones and missiles at Ukraine.