“Bold Move by Leader Raises Hopes for Peace in Ukraine”
By Elizabeth Piper and Kate Holton
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to inject fresh hope for peace in Ukraine during a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other Western leaders on Sunday, following a contentious exchange between the Ukrainian leader and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington just two days ago.
After a tense confrontation with Trump, who threatened to cut off support for Ukraine and accused Zelenskiy of ingratitude for U.S. aid, the Ukrainian leader traveled to London on Saturday and received a warm embrace from Starmer upon his arrival at Downing Street.
Zelenskiy is expected to receive assurances of support from Starmer and other European leaders, who are contemplating whether they can take the lead in providing weapons and financial assistance to Kyiv before any peace negotiations commence.
Without the same military capabilities as the United States, European leaders have thus far offered verbal support following the conflict with Zelenskiy, with Germany advocating for the release of 3 billion euros ($3.1 billion) for Ukraine.
On Sunday, Starmer will be seeking more tangible forms of support for Ukraine from his counterparts and aiming to rekindle the possibility of a peace agreement with Russia by convincing Trump that Europe is capable of defending itself. Some leaders may also urge Zelenskiy to resume talks with the U.S. president.
“Three years after Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine, we find ourselves at a critical juncture,” said Starmer in a statement, reiterating his unwavering backing for Ukraine through increased provisions of resources, training, and aid.
Together with allies, Starmer emphasized the need to enhance preparations for European security guarantees while continuing discussions with the United States.
In a highly anticipated meeting, Starmer will start Sunday by conferring with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, following his display of support for a visibly shaken Zelenskiy on Saturday. The discussions will then expand to include French President Emmanuel Macron, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and leaders from various European countries.
Zelenskiy’s clash with Trump on Friday marked a sour note in what had been a positive week for Europe in its efforts to secure continued American support for Ukraine, particularly following amicable visits to Washington by Macron and Starmer. While both leaders had pressed Trump to consider providing a safety net for a potential European peacekeeping mission in the event of an agreement between Kyiv and Moscow, they did not receive a concrete commitment from him.
Starmer is keen to position Britain as a pivotal link between Europe and the United States and will be looking to assert a leadership role during Sunday’s meeting, which is crucial in determining the extent of concrete support European leaders can offer to Ukraine and repairing the damage caused by Friday’s diplomatic setback.
The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for an emergency summit involving the United States, European nations, and allies to discuss the pressing challenges of today, with a focus on Ukraine. European leaders are anticipated to push for peace talks that include Ukraine in order to bolster Kyiv’s position and secure crucial security guarantees essential for maintaining a lasting peace and deterring potential Russian aggression. This would entail convincing Washington to provide support, potentially in the form of air cover, intelligence, surveillance, and a stronger, yet unspecified threat should Putin attempt further territorial expansion.
Starmer will brief other leaders on his meeting with Trump, during which the U.S. President commended his efforts to enhance defense spending and offered to deploy peacekeeping troops. Starmer aims to de-escalate tensions following the discord in Trump’s Oval Office. Additionally, some leaders will encourage Zelenskiy to mend relations with Trump. NATO’s Rutte and Polish President Andrzej Duda have urged the Ukrainian leader to find a way to rebuild the relationship.
Nils Schmid, the foreign policy spokesperson for Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, emphasized the importance of Europe maintaining communication with Trump, given the uncertainty about his stance on various issues in the coming months. The situation underscores the need for ongoing dialogue and engagement to navigate the evolving dynamics effectively.
