LONDON

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday told MPs that elements of a leaked 28-point US peace proposal for Ukraine are “not acceptable,” while describing other parts as “essential” to securing an eventual settlement.

Making a Commons statement, Starmer said he had recently spoken with international leaders and stressed the need for a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine, emphasizing that “both words -- just and lasting -- are important.”

The plan, reportedly drafted by the US and Russia and leaked last week, includes proposals that Starmer said the UK could not support.

However, he argued that some aspects would be necessary for any viable agreement.

Starmer outlined what he described as “fundamental principles,” telling MPs that “Ukraine’s sovereignty must be maintained and that Ukraine should be able to defend itself in the future.”

He added that “Ukraine’s voice must be heard” and that any solution “will need the consent of NATO.”

Giving up territory Ukraine currently holds 'obviously unacceptable'

Edward Leigh, the Conservative father of the House, pressed the prime minister on whether it would be “totally unacceptable” to ask Ukraine to surrender territory it currently controls -- a proposal included in the leaked 28-point peace plan.

Starmer said he agreed, insisting the notion that Ukraine should give up land it now holds is “so obviously unacceptable it shouldn’t be seen as a serious proposition.”

He warned that Russia remained an “ongoing threat” to UK security, noting that two Russian ships had been intercepted in British waters in recent weeks.

He said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “illegal actions” had inflicted devastating losses on both Ukrainians and Russians.

“Thousands of Russian soldiers are killed every single day -- 100,000 have been killed attacking Donetsk,” he said. “In total, more than one million Russians have been killed or injured because of the depraved ambition of one man.”