The United Kingdom has once again urged the Russian Federation to immediately halt its illegal and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unequivocally stated that Ukraine remains unvanquished, having emerged as a formidable fighting force. The nation has showcased extraordinary resilience and unwavering determination in safeguarding its sovereignty, and the United Kingdom staunchly supports Ukraine's absolute right to self-defense against aggression.

Focused on achieving a just and lasting peace, the UK highlighted Ukraine's commitment to diplomacy during the Istanbul negotiations. There, Ukraine presented reasonable and practical proposals aimed at securing an unconditional ceasefire. Regrettably, Russia failed to reciprocate, instead presenting maximalist, non-negotiable demands that disregard Ukraine’s sovereignty. This behavior, according to the UK, clearly indicates that President Putin is not genuinely interested in peace and remains committed to prolonging his illegal war.

Since Ukraine's offer of a full, unconditional ceasefire on March 11, 2025, Russia has continued its brutal campaign. Daily airstrikes have resulted in over 500 civilian deaths and more than 2,700 injuries. The UK anticipates further disinformation from the Russian Federation regarding alleged 'acts of terrorism' from Ukraine. However, a critical distinction exists, both morally and under international law, between Ukraine striking military targets and Russia targeting civilians.

Ukraine’s drone and missile strikes have consistently targeted military infrastructure within Russian territory or illegally occupied regions. These legitimate military objectives include airbases, logistics hubs, ammunition depots, command and control centers, and radar and missile systems. Such strikes are intended to degrade Russia’s capacity to wage war, particularly its long-range bombing capabilities. Under international humanitarian law, Ukraine is fully within its rights to target the military assets of an aggressor state, especially in self-defense.

In stark contrast, Russia has repeatedly launched drone and missile attacks on civilian areas across Ukraine. These attacks have devastated residential buildings, hospitals, schools, energy infrastructure, and emergency services. In Kharkiv, over 50 explosions were recorded, causing widespread damage to residential buildings and killing civilians. Kyiv witnessed the tragic death of three firefighters responding to earlier strikes. Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernihiv have also endured civilian casualties and significant infrastructure damage. As of April 30, 2025, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights verified a total of 45,000 civilian casualties, noting that the actual numbers could be much higher.

Russian strikes on civilians or civilian infrastructure either aim to terrorize the civilian population and break morale, rather than achieve legitimate military objectives, or demonstrate a failure to adequately distinguish military targets and act proportionately out of military necessity. These actions do not align with a nation seeking peace, despite President Putin's claims; rather, they appear to be blatant retaliation following Ukraine’s most successful and comprehensive strike against Russian Strategic bomber air bases.

Russia’s continued occupation of Ukraine and escalating aggression are not only unlawful but also unsustainable. President Putin’s full-scale invasion, now enduring for over 1,200 days, has led to catastrophic losses, including an estimated one million Russian casualties. The UK asserts that President Putin continues to sacrifice Russian lives and futures and must choose an alternative path—one of peace, responsibility, and respect for international law. Witnessing the capabilities of Ukraine’s brave armed forces, the UK pledges continued provision of the tools necessary for them to defend their sovereignty and protect their people. The UK reiterates its call for Russia to accept an unconditional ceasefire, return to the negotiating table in good faith, and end this illegal war.