UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a four-point strategy aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defenses and securing a lasting peace amid ongoing conflict with Russia.
Speaking after a summit of 18 leaders—primarily from Europe, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—Starmer emphasized the need for a "coalition of the willing" to intensify support for Ukraine. He also stressed efforts to engage the United States in these initiatives.
"We stand at a pivotal moment in history," Starmer declared. Zelensky, expressing gratitude for the strong backing Ukraine received at the summit, noted that European unity had reached an unprecedented level.
The announcement follows a tense exchange between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House just two days earlier.
"We are working collectively across Europe to establish a foundation for cooperation with the U.S. to achieve genuine peace and security guarantees," Zelensky stated.
At a subsequent press conference, Starmer outlined four key agreements reached during the summit:
- Continuation and expansion of military aid to Ukraine, alongside increasing economic pressure on Russia.
- Ensuring any lasting peace deal upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, with Ukraine’s direct involvement in negotiations.
- Strengthening Ukraine’s defensive capabilities post-war to deter future aggression.
- Forming a "coalition of the willing" to uphold and enforce any eventual peace agreement.
As part of this initiative, the UK has pledged an additional £1.6bn ($2bn) in export finance to supply over 5,000 air defense missiles. This supplements a £2.2bn loan for military aid, financed by profits from frozen Russian assets.
"We must learn from past mistakes and avoid any weak settlement that Russia could easily violate. Any agreement must be backed by strength," Starmer asserted.
While he did not specify which nations had committed to the coalition, he confirmed that those involved were accelerating their strategic planning. The UK, he affirmed, would reinforce its support with "boots on the ground and planes in the air."
"Europe must bear the primary responsibility," Starmer said, adding that while U.S. backing is crucial, Russia must not dictate the terms of any agreement.
"To be clear, we align with Trump on the urgency of achieving a lasting peace. Now, we must act together," Starmer concluded.
When questioned about the reliability of the U.S. as an ally under Trump, Starmer responded, "Nobody wanted to witness last Friday’s events, but I do not consider the U.S. an unreliable partner."
Among the nations represented at the summit were 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 stressed the urgency of "rearming Europe." NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for European nations to step up their contributions to ensure Ukraine remains equipped for the fight.
Following the summit, Zelensky visited Sandringham for a meeting with King Charles III. He later confirmed that Ukraine was prepared to finalize a minerals agreement with the U.S., despite the deal initially being expected during his Washington visit. The signing was postponed after a heated confrontation between Zelensky and Trump in the Oval Office.
Earlier, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen stated that the minerals deal could not proceed without a peace agreement with Russia. However, Zelensky, when asked by the BBC, reaffirmed that the deal was "ready to be signed."
The summit concluded a whirlwind week of diplomacy, which saw visits to Washington by Starmer, Zelensky, and French President Emmanuel Macron. However, tensions escalated when Trump clashed with Zelensky and U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, accusing Ukraine of "gambling with World War Three."
Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to end the war and has shown trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin, unsettling many Western allies. Meanwhile, the U.S. has engaged in separate peace talks with Russia—excluding Ukraine from the discussions.
At one point, Trump controversially claimed that Ukraine initiated the war, contradicting the well-documented fact that Putin launched a full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
