UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a four-point strategy to collaborate with Ukraine in ending the war and defending the nation against Russia.
Starmer stated that the UK, France, and other nations will intensify their efforts through a “coalition of the willing” and aim to secure support from the United States in backing Ukraine.
“We are at a crossroads in history today,” Starmer said after a summit of 18 leaders – mostly from Europe and including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said Ukraine felt “strong support” and the summit showed “European unity at an extremely high level not seen for a long time”.
It comes two days after a fiery exchange between the Ukrainian leader and US President Donald Trump in the White House.
“We are all working together in Europe in order to find a basis for cooperation with America for a true peace and guaranteed security,” Zelensky said after the summit.
Speaking at a news conference shortly after the meeting of leaders, Starmer said four points had been agreed:
- to keep military aid flowing into Ukraine, and to keep increasing the economic pressure on Russia
- that any lasting peace must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and security and Ukraine must be present at any peace talks
- in the event of a peace deal, to boost Ukraine’s defensive capabilities to deter any future invasion
- to develop a “coalition of the willing” to defend a deal in Ukraine and to guarantee peace afterwards
Sir Keir also revealed an additional £1.6 billion ($2 billion) in UK export financing to purchase over 5,000 air defense missiles. This is in addition to a £2.2 billion loan funded by profits from frozen Russian assets, aimed at providing further military assistance to Ukraine.
“We have to learn from the mistakes of the past, we cannot accept a weak deal which Russia can breach with ease, instead any deal must be backed by strength,” he said.
The prime minister did not state which countries had agreed to join this coalition of the willing, but said that those who had committed would intensify planning with real urgency.
The UK, he said, would back its commitment with “boots on the ground, and planes in the air”.
“Europe must do the heavy lifting,” he said, before adding that the agreement would need US backing and had to include Russia, but that Moscow could not be allowed to dictate terms.
“Let me be clear, we agree with Trump on the urgent need for a durable peace. Now we need to deliver together,” Sir Keir said.
When questioned about whether the US under Trump was an unreliable ally, he responded, “Nobody wanted to see what happened last Friday, but I do not believe the US is an unreliable ally.”
The summit included representatives from countries such as France, Poland, Sweden, Turkey, Norway, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Finland, Italy, Spain, and Canada.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the urgent need to “re-arm Europe.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed these sentiments, noting that the summit showcased European nations “stepping up” to ensure Ukraine has the resources it needs to “stay in the fight as long as necessary.”
Following the summit, Zelensky visited Sandringham, where he met with King Charles III. He later addressed reporters at a final press briefing, announcing his readiness to sign a mineral agreement with the US.
Ukraine was initially expected to formalize the deal—granting the US access to its rare mineral reserves—during Zelensky’s visit to Washington. However, the Ukrainian delegation departed early after a heated exchange with Trump in the Oval Office.
Earlier on Sunday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cautioned that a mineral deal between the US and Ukraine could not proceed “without a peace agreement” with Russia.
Despite this, when asked by the BBC about the deal’s status after the summit, Zelensky affirmed that it was ready to be signed.
“The agreement that’s on the table will be signed if the parties are ready,” he said.
Sunday’s summit concludes a hectic week of diplomacy, which included visits to Washington by French President Emmanuel Macron, Sir Keir and Zelensky.
Zelensky’s meeting, however, culminated in a heated exchanged with Trump and US Vice-President JD Vance, in which the US president accused his Ukrainian counterpart of “gambling with World War Three”.
Trump has said he wants to end the war in Ukraine and has expressed trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin, to the consternation of many of his Western allies.
The US has also begun peace talks with Russia – excluding Ukraine.
At one point, the US leader accused Ukraine of starting the war – even though it was Putin who launched a full-scale invasion of Russia’s neighbour on 24 February 2022.
[BBC]