More than 20 nations supporting Ukraine have pledged to 'take Russian oil and gas off the global market' as part of efforts to pressure President Vladimir Putin to end the war. 'We're choking off funding for Russia's war machine,' said UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, after hosting a summit of the so-called 'coalition of the willing' in London. The UK and US have in recent days sanctioned Russia's two biggest oil companies, while the EU targeted Moscow's liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was also in London, said 'pressure' on Russia was the only way to stop the fighting. However, no long-range missile deliveries were announced at the summit.
Zelensky has long argued that US-made Tomahawks and European missiles would help make the war costs heavier for Moscow by hitting key military targets – including oil refineries and weapons depots – deep inside Russia. But during last week's talks in Washington, US President Donald Trump indicated to Zelensky that he was not ready to supply Tomahawks.
On Thursday, Putin warned that if 'such weapons are used to strike Russian Federation territory the response will be... overwhelming'. Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 and currently controls around a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean peninsula that it annexed in 2014.
Speaking at a joint press conference after the London summit, Sir Keir said Putin was 'not serious about peace', and therefore Ukraine's allies agreed on a 'clear plan for the rest of the year' on supporting Ukraine. The UK Prime Minister said this also included targeting Russia's sovereign assets to 'unlock billions to help finance Ukraine's defence'. He provided no further details.
On Thursday, EU leaders agreed to help support Ukraine's 'financial needs' for the next two years, but stopped short of agreeing to use frozen Russian assets worth €140bn (£122bn). Asked about a so-called 'reparations loan' for Ukraine funded by the Russian assets, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed hope for a decision by Christmas Eve.
In London, the 'coalition of the willing' also pledged to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences amid almost daily Russian air assaults on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure. Zelensky warned that Russia 'wants to make the winter cold a tool of torment', adding: 'They want to break us.'
Comments by the leaders in London will be disappointing for those who were hoping to hear specific details of how Kyiv's allies were planning to prevent Russia from attacking Ukraine. While reinforcement of military aid was expressed, there were no concrete examples of how exactly the allies were planning to force a change on the battlefield or entice Putin to negotiate.
In Ukraine, citizens voiced concerns over daily hardships like power outages and lack of essential services due to ongoing attacks. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte participated in the London meeting, while other leaders joined via video link. Ukraine and its Western allies have agreed in principle to Trump's proposal to pause fighting for negotiations, a request Moscow has rejected, insisting on conditions deemed unacceptable by Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was also in London, said 'pressure' on Russia was the only way to stop the fighting. However, no long-range missile deliveries were announced at the summit.
Zelensky has long argued that US-made Tomahawks and European missiles would help make the war costs heavier for Moscow by hitting key military targets – including oil refineries and weapons depots – deep inside Russia. But during last week's talks in Washington, US President Donald Trump indicated to Zelensky that he was not ready to supply Tomahawks.
On Thursday, Putin warned that if 'such weapons are used to strike Russian Federation territory the response will be... overwhelming'. Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 and currently controls around a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean peninsula that it annexed in 2014.
Speaking at a joint press conference after the London summit, Sir Keir said Putin was 'not serious about peace', and therefore Ukraine's allies agreed on a 'clear plan for the rest of the year' on supporting Ukraine. The UK Prime Minister said this also included targeting Russia's sovereign assets to 'unlock billions to help finance Ukraine's defence'. He provided no further details.
On Thursday, EU leaders agreed to help support Ukraine's 'financial needs' for the next two years, but stopped short of agreeing to use frozen Russian assets worth €140bn (£122bn). Asked about a so-called 'reparations loan' for Ukraine funded by the Russian assets, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed hope for a decision by Christmas Eve.
In London, the 'coalition of the willing' also pledged to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences amid almost daily Russian air assaults on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure. Zelensky warned that Russia 'wants to make the winter cold a tool of torment', adding: 'They want to break us.'
Comments by the leaders in London will be disappointing for those who were hoping to hear specific details of how Kyiv's allies were planning to prevent Russia from attacking Ukraine. While reinforcement of military aid was expressed, there were no concrete examples of how exactly the allies were planning to force a change on the battlefield or entice Putin to negotiate.
In Ukraine, citizens voiced concerns over daily hardships like power outages and lack of essential services due to ongoing attacks. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte participated in the London meeting, while other leaders joined via video link. Ukraine and its Western allies have agreed in principle to Trump's proposal to pause fighting for negotiations, a request Moscow has rejected, insisting on conditions deemed unacceptable by Kyiv.
