UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a four-point plan to support Ukraine and secure a lasting peace in the region, as tensions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump escalate.
Speaking after a summit of 18 European leaders, Starmer emphasized the importance of European unity in the face of Russian aggression. The “coalition of the willing,” which includes the UK, France, and several other European nations, aims to step up military aid to Ukraine while seeking US cooperation in ensuring regional stability.
“We are at a crossroads in history today,” Starmer declared, reinforcing the urgency of sustained military and economic pressure on Russia. Zelensky echoed this sentiment, stating that Kyiv felt “strong support” and that the summit displayed “European unity at an extremely high level not seen for a long time.”
The summit followed a contentious meeting between Zelensky and Trump at the White House, where the US president accused Ukraine of “gambling with World War Three” and suggested that Ukraine bore responsibility for the ongoing war despite Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion. The diplomatic rift further widened as Trump initiated separate peace talks with Russia, excluding Ukraine from the negotiations.
Starmer’s Four-Point Plan
At a post-summit press conference, Starmer outlined the coalition’s four key commitments:
- Sustaining military aid to Ukraine and increasing economic pressure on Russia.
- Ensuring that any peace agreement upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, with Kyiv participating in negotiations.
- Enhancing Ukraine’s defensive capabilities post-war to deter future aggression.
- Establishing a “coalition of the willing” to guarantee and enforce a durable peace agreement.
Starmer also announced an additional £1.6 billion ($2 billion) in UK export financing to procure over 5,000 air defense missiles, supplementing a previously pledged £2.2 billion loan for military aid derived from frozen Russian assets.
“We cannot accept a weak deal that Russia can breach with ease,” Starmer asserted, emphasizing that any settlement must be backed by strength. He reiterated the necessity of US support while maintaining that Europe must take the lead in ensuring Ukraine’s security.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed a one-month ceasefire, encompassing air, sea, and energy infrastructure, to allow for diplomatic progress. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte underscored the need for Europe to “re-arm” in response to the ongoing conflict.
Despite tensions with Washington, Zelensky remains open to agreements with the US, including a mineral trade deal that was expected to be signed during his US visit but was delayed following his confrontation with Trump. The Ukrainian leader has signaled readiness to finalize the agreement, though US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that such a deal hinges on a broader peace agreement with Russia.
With diplomatic efforts intensifying and divisions between Western allies becoming more apparent, Starmer’s coalition seeks to present a united European front in supporting Ukraine. However, questions remain over how the US will navigate its stance amid Trump’s controversial position on the conflict.
