LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the necessity of increased and sustained support for Kyiv, describing it as a crucial moment for European security, while addressing leaders gathered on Sunday for a summit concerning the war in Ukraine.
“Even as Russia discusses peace, its aggression continues unabated,” Starmer stated at the summit’s commencement.
Accompanied by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron, Starmer announced that the three nations have agreed to collaborate on a plan aimed at halting the conflict, which will then be presented to the U.S., who have considered mediating a peace agreement.
“We must determine the steps needed from this meeting to achieve peace through strength, benefiting everyone involved,” he urged. “Let’s begin.”
The meeting’s significance was somewhat diminished by U.S. President Donald Trump’s public criticism of Zelensky on Friday at the White House, where he accused him of being unappreciative of U.S. aid in the face of Russian aggression.
Starmer stated his focus is on facilitating renewed peace negotiations, using their previous breakdown as an opportunity to reconnect with Trump, Zelensky, and Macron, rather than escalating tensions.
Sunday’s meeting is an important step
The London meeting has gained importance in terms of bolstering the defense of Ukraine and reinforcing the continent’s security measures.
The summit likely featured discussions about forming a European military force for deployment in Ukraine to support a ceasefire. Starmer referred to it as “a coalition of the willing.”
In an interview with the BBC, Starmer said he trusts Trump, despite distrusting Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Do I believe Donald Trump when he says he wants lasting peace? The answer to that is yes,” he affirmed.
Starmer mentioned that there are “intense discussions” underway to secure a security commitment from the U.S.
“If a deal is reached to cease hostilities, it must be protected. A temporary pause followed by renewed aggression from Putin would be the worst outcome,” Starmer cautioned. “This has occurred before, and it’s a genuine risk. Therefore, any agreement must be enduring, not just a brief respite.”
Starmer outlined three key components for a successful peace agreement: providing Ukraine with the means to negotiate from a position of strength through military aid, incorporating a European element to guarantee security, and securing a “U.S. backstop” to prevent Putin from violating the terms.
“That’s the complete package. All three elements are essential, and I am working diligently to bring them together,” Starmer explained.
Starmer hosted the meeting at Lancaster House, a historic mansion near Buckingham Palace, following efforts last week to convince Trump to prioritize Ukraine in negotiations and shift his focus toward Europe.
Leaders from Germany, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Romania attended the summit. Also present were the Turkish foreign minister, the NATO secretary-general, and the presidents of the European Commission and European Council.
European leaders are backing Zelensky
Zelensky received widespread support from European leaders after the incident at the White House, where he faced public criticism from an ally.
Starmer greeted Zelensky with an embrace upon his arrival at the meeting on Sunday.
Europe has been uneasy since Trump began direct peace talks with Putin, who has been largely isolated by Western leaders since the invasion of Ukraine three years ago. The urgency to remain relevant and safeguard European interests intensified as their long-standing ally seemed to be growing closer to Putin, especially after Trump referred to Zelensky as a dictator and wrongly blamed Ukraine for starting the war.
Recent meetings had offered some optimism — until Zelensky’s visit to the White House.
Visits to the Oval Office by Macron, who declared his visit a “turning point,” and Starmer were considered positive steps. The meetings were friendly, and Trump adopted a more conciliatory tone towards Ukraine, although he refrained from committing to U.S. security guarantees and maintained that Europe would need to provide peacekeeping forces.
Within 12 hours of Starmer’s return from Washington, the prospect of peace appeared to fade as Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelensky for disputing Trump’s claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be trusted.
“Starmer did an impressive job of asserting Europe’s agency in the war on Ukraine and conveying to President Trump that Europe is willing and able to take a leading role in implementing any credible peace deal,” said Rachel Ellehuus, director-general of Royal United Services Institute. “Unfortunately, Friday’s White House meeting was a major step backward.”
According to Ellehuus, Ukraine can no longer rely on U.S. military or political support following Trump’s declaration of neutrality in negotiations. She suggested that Europe should intervene and potentially allocate approximately 200 billion euros ($207 billion) in seized Russian assets to fund the effort.
“The immediate goal of the meetings in London must be to keep Ukraine in the fight so it can negotiate from a maximum position of strength,” she stated.
European leaders pledge to increase military spending
Starmer pledged this week to increase military spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027, and other European nations may follow suit.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated on Saturday that Europe faces a critical juncture and must prioritize its own security. He emphasized that European countries need to raise their military spending to at least 3% of GDP.
“If we don’t increase our effort fast enough and let the aggressor dictate its conditions, we won’t end up well,” he warned.
Macron, while acknowledging the U.S.’s right to shift its focus to China and Asia, also advocated for increased defense spending and called for unity.
“We should have woken up earlier,” Macron stated. “I’ve been saying for years that we need a more sovereign, more united, more independent Europe.”
—Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London, Karel Janicek in Prague and Samuel Petrequin contributed.
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