British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK, France, and Ukraine are collaborating on plans to end the ongoing conflict with Russia, aiming for a lasting peace after three years of fighting. This announcement came during a summit in London with various European leaders following tensions between Ukraine and the U.S. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky visited London, receiving support and a loan to bolster Ukraine’s defenses. Concerns grew over U.S. foreign policy under President Trump, who has shifted towards mediating with Putin, alarming Kyiv and its allies. European leaders emphasized unity and increased defense cooperation amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.
London:
On Sunday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain and France are collaborating with Ukraine to develop strategies aimed at ending the conflict with Russia, as European leaders convened for crisis discussions following tensions between Kyiv and Washington.
Prior to a summit in London that gathered over a dozen European leaders striving to find a resolution to the three-year-old war, Keir Starmer called upon world leaders to “work together,” stating that “nobody wants to see” incidents like the confrontation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Friday.
“We need to discover a path for collaborative efforts. After three years of violent conflict, we must now strive for a lasting peace,” Starmer expressed in a BBC interview.
“The United Kingdom, together with France and potentially a few others, will work with Ukraine to formulate a plan to cease hostilities, which we will then discuss with the United States.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shared a similar sentiment, emphasizing to Starmer during their meeting at Downing Street that “It is crucial to prevent any risk of division within the West.”
Ukraine’s allies are reaffirming their unwavering support amidst rising fears that Trump might compromise Ukraine’s interests in ongoing negotiations with Russia.
Starmer extended a warm welcome to Zelensky in London on Saturday, the day after the Ukrainian leader’s disappointing visit to the White House, offering a loan to bolster Ukraine’s dwindling defenses.
The London summit includes leaders from various parts of continental Europe, such as France, Germany, Denmark, and Italy, along with representatives from Turkey, NATO, and the European Union.
Amid increasing worries about continued US support for NATO, the meeting will also address the necessity for enhanced defense cooperation in Europe.
Ahead of the summit, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk mentioned that Warsaw could leverage its friendly relations with Washington to “overcome this dilemma” and advocate for stronger support for Ukraine.
NATO chief Mark Rutte conveyed a positive outlook ahead of the summit, affirming that Europe would need to boost its defense spending to maintain the alliance’s strength. “Everyone in Europe will need to contribute more,” he emphasized.
‘Very welcome’
In addition to participating in the security summit, Zelensky is scheduled to meet King Charles III during his visit.
As Zelensky’s convoy arrived in London on Saturday, a throng of supporters cheered enthusiastically.
“You’re extremely welcome here in Downing Street,” Starmer told Zelensky before their closed-door discussion lasting 75 minutes.
Zelensky expressed profound gratitude to Britain and its people “for their extraordinary support from the very outset of this war.”
The two leaders deliberated on Ukraine’s situation and the pursuit of “a lasting and just peace that will prevent Russia from using a ceasefire to rearm and attack once more,” as stated in a release from Zelensky’s office.
They also announced a £2.26 billion ($2.84 billion) loan agreement designed to enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities, which is to be repaid through the profits derived from immobilized Russian sovereign assets.
Just hours prior, Zelensky faced backlash in the White House.
During a broadcast in the Oval Office, Trump and US Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of being “ungrateful” and rejecting their proposed terms for a truce.
Trump further claimed that Zelensky was risking the prospect of World War III.
Meanwhile, Zelensky maintained that there can be “no compromises” with Putin as negotiations to conclude the war take place.
‘Strategic partners’
Trump’s unexpected shift in Washington’s long-standing backing for Ukraine has caused alarm among Kyiv and its European allies.
The recently inaugurated Republican has positioned himself as a mediator between Putin and Zelensky, sidelining Kyiv and Europe in favor of renewed relations with Putin.
Although he declined to apologize post-White House confrontation, Zelensky showed readiness to negotiate terms regarding Ukraine’s mineral resources, which are of interest to Trump.
“Despite the challenging dialogue,” Zelensky affirmed that Ukraine and the United States “remain strategic partners.”
“However, we must be transparent and direct in our communications to truly grasp our mutual objectives,” the Ukrainian leader conveyed on X.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized Trump for “switching the roles of victim and aggressor” in the ongoing conflict.
“Yesterday evening underscored that a new era of infamy has commenced,” she remarked.
Moscow, in turn, labeled Zelensky’s visit to Washington as a “complete failure.”
The Kremlin stated in remarks aired on Sunday that the United States’s significant foreign policy shift towards Russia largely aligns with its own perspective.
“The new administration is rapidly altering all foreign policy configurations. This largely coincides with our perspective,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented in a recorded interview with Russian state television.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)