British Prime Minister Keir Starmer greeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the day of the European Leaders’ Summit and discussed European security and Ukraine on March 2, 2025 at the Lancaster House in London.
Toby Melville | Reuters
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday that Britain, France and Ukraine have agreed to develop a ceasefire plan to show the United States to submit it to the United States.
Ukrainian president’s extraordinary scolding covers up the meeting Volodymyr Zelenskyy By the President of the United States Donald Trumpblowing him up at the White House on Friday as we express ungrateful support for the Russian invasion.
But Stemmer said he focused on resuming peace talks and his collapse was used as an opportunity to reconnect with Trump, Zelensky and the French president. Emmanuel Macron Instead of “raise words.”
“We have now agreed that Britain, together with France and possibly one or two, will work with Ukraine to develop a plan to stop the fight, and then we will discuss that plan with the United States,” Starmer told the BBC. Both Starmer and Macron have spoken with Trump since Friday.
Sunday’s meeting is an important step
The London Conference is even more important in defending war-torn allies and defending the continent’s defenses.
Sunday’s summit is likely to include talks on building European military forces to send Ukraine to support the ceasefire. It will involve “a alliance that will be willing,” Starmer said.
Stemmer said he did not trust Russian President Vladimir Putin, but did believe in Trump. “I believe Donald Trump said lasting peace? The answer is yes,” he said.
Starmer says there is “heavy discussion” that can get security assurances from the United States
“If there is an agreement, if there is a fight, then the agreement has to be defended, because the worst of all the results is a temporary pause and then (Russian President Vladimir) Putin comes again,” Starmer said. “This happened in the past and I think it’s a real risk, which is why we have to make sure if there is a deal, it’s a lasting deal, not a temporary pause.”
Starmer listed as three essentials for a successful peace agreement: arming the Ukrainians to place them in a position of strength; including a European factor that ensures safety; and providing “our defender” to prevent Putin from violating his promises.
“That’s the parcel. All three parts need to be in place, and that’s what I’m trying to put it together,” Starmer said.
Starmer convinced Trump to put Ukraine at the negotiating center and tilt its loyalty to Europe during last week’s Charm Offensive, which presided over the meeting at Lancaster House, a 200-year-old mansion near Buckingham Palace.
Leaders from France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Romania will be at the summit. Türkiye’s Foreign Minister, NATO Secretary-General and the President of the European Commission attended the meeting.
European leaders are supporting Zelenskyy
After the White House devastated, Zelenskyy received widespread support from leaders across Europe, an excellent attack on allies broadcasting on live television.
When Zelenskyy arrived at the meeting on Sunday, he hugged Zelenskyy, the last one.
Europe has been feeling anxious since Trump and Putin’s direct peace talks. When Trump said Zelenskyy said Ukraine began war, it was scrambled to stay relevant and protect Europe’s interests as their once unwavering allies seemed even more disturbing.
The meeting in recent days has provided some hope – until Zelenskyy visits the White House.
Macron visited the Oval Office, who declared his visit a “turning point” and Starmer was seen as a step in the right direction. The meeting was cordial, and Trump even adopted a more modest tone towards Ukraine, although he did not promise to provide security assurances for the United States and maintaining Europe would need to provide peacekeeping forces.
Within 12 hours of Starmer’s return from Washington, the topic of peace seemed to collapse, with Vice President JD Vance accusing Zelenskyy of challenging Trump’s assertion that Russian President Vladimir Putin could trust.
“Starmer has done an impressive job of announcing the agency in the Ukrainian war and conveyed to President Trump that Europe is willing and able to play a leadership role in implementing any reliable peace agreement,” said Rachel Ellehuus, Director General of the Royal United Services Institute. “Unfortunately, Friday’s White House meeting went backwards.”
Elehus said Ukraine could no longer count on U.S. military or political support after Trump declared itself neutral in negotiations. She said Europe needs to step in and could release about 200 billion euros ($207 billion) of Russian assets to help fund the effort.
“The direct goal of the meeting in London must be to keep Ukraine in combat so that negotiations can be conducted from the maximum position of strength,” she said.
European leaders guarantee increased military spending
Starmer this week guaranteed to increase military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. Other European countries may follow suit.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Saturday that Europe faces historic test and must take care of itself. He said European countries must increase their weapons spending to reach at least 3% of GDP.
“If we don’t increase our efforts quickly enough and let the invaders decide their conditions, then we won’t go well,” he said.
Macron said it is legal for the U.S. to shift its focus to dealing with China and Asia, and he also demands more defense spending because he calls for solidarity.
“We should have woken up earlier,” Macron said. “For years, I have been saying we need a more sovereign, more united, more independent Europe.”
