UK, France push for Ukraine peace plan at London summit

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told world leaders on Sunday that they needed to step up to a “once in a generation moment” for the security of Europe, at a summit in London to discuss ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Starmer said getting a good outcome for Ukraine was “vital to the security of every nation here and many others too”. He was flanked by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron during the official photo to mark the start of talks.

After the meeting, Starmer said he did not see the US as an unreliable ally, but Europe must continue to provide funding for Ukraine to put it in a stronger position if peace was negotiated. He said the plan he was working on for peace in Ukraine was intended to receive US backing. “The UK will use $2 billion in export financing to supply 5,000 air defence missiles for Ukraine,” he said.

Earlier on Sunday, Starmer said Britain, France and Ukraine had agreed to work on a ceasefire plan to present to the US.

The summit took place two days after talks broke down between US President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy, when Trump blasted Zelenskyy for not being grateful enough for US support.

Earlier in the day, Starmer said he’s focused on being a bridge to restore peace talks, whose collapse he used as an opportunity to re-engage with Trump, Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron rather than “ramp up the rhetoric”.

“We’ve now agreed that the UK along with France and possibly one or two others will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting and then we’ll discuss that plan with the US,” Starmer said. He and Macron had both spoken to Trump since Friday.

The London meeting has taken on greater importance in defending the war-torn ally and shoring up the continent’s defences. Starmer said it would involve “a coalition of the willing.”   He said there were “intense discussions” to get a security guarantee from the US. “If there is to be a deal, if there is to be a stopping of the fighting, then that agreement has to be defended, because the worst of all outcomes is that there is a temporary pause and then (Russian President Vladimir) Putin comes again,” Starmer said. “That has happened in the past, I think it is a real risk and that is why we must ensure that if there’s a deal, it is a lasting deal, not a temporary pause.”

The three essentials listed by Starmer for a successful peace deal were: Arm the Ukrainians to put them in a position of strength; a European element to guarantee security; and a US backstop,” to prevent Putin from breaking promises. “That’s the package. All three parts need to be in place, and that’s what I’m working hard to bring together,” Starmer said.