LONDON — On Sunday, European leaders assembled in London to hold discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following a heated meeting at the White House that further strained U.S.-Ukraine relations.
At a press conference after the summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of learning from past mistakes, stating that accepting a weak agreement—one that Russia could violate—was not an option. He urged all European nations to play their part in ensuring a strong resolution and to share the responsibility fairly.
Starmer laid out a strategy to support Ukraine, which includes maintaining the flow of aid and sustaining economic pressure on Russia. He stressed that any long-term peace settlement must guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, with Ukraine itself actively participating in the negotiations.
Should an agreement be reached, Starmer assured that Europe would continue providing military assistance to Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression. He also mentioned that a “coalition of the willing” would step in to help defend Ukraine.
A key session of the summit, held at Lancaster House in London, saw participation from leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Starmer, and President Zelenskyy. During the discussions, Starmer reiterated that the United Kingdom is prepared to contribute troops and deploy aircraft if necessary, acknowledging that not all countries may be in a position to make similar commitments.
He also stressed that U.S. support would be crucial for any agreement to be viable. “We are working towards a lasting peace,” he stated.
When questioned about former U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance on the proposal, Starmer revealed that he had spoken with Trump the previous night and would not have pursued this path if he did not believe in its potential success.
Additionally, Starmer announced a £2.2 billion loan (approximately $2.7 billion USD) for Ukraine, utilizing profits from Russian assets frozen by the UK government.
On the same day, Zelenskyy also met with King Charles III at Sandringham House, according to Buckingham Palace.
In an evening statement, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to European leaders for their participation in the summit, emphasizing the ongoing discussions on security assurances and conditions for a just peace in Ukraine. He hinted at upcoming critical meetings in the near future.
A special European Council session has been scheduled for Thursday to further address Ukraine’s situation, with Zelenskyy invited to participate.
“We deeply appreciate the strong support for Ukraine, for both our soldiers and civilians, as well as for our independence,” Zelenskyy remarked. “Together, we are working in Europe to establish a solid foundation for cooperation with the United States to achieve real peace and guaranteed security.”
Earlier, Starmer informed BBC News that he had reached an agreement with Trump and Macron for the UK and France to draft a Ukraine peace proposal before presenting it to the U.S. He added that one or two other nations might also contribute to the effort aimed at halting hostilities.
According to a statement from Starmer’s office, the prime minister is committed to intensifying efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine while hosting the summit in London.
Zelenskyy arrived in the UK on Saturday after a tense visit to Washington, D.C., where his meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office turned into a public confrontation.
During the heated exchange, Trump and Vance criticized Zelenskyy, falsely accusing Ukraine of instigating the conflict with Russia, despite Russia’s invasion in February 2022. They also voiced frustration over a proposed minerals extraction agreement between Ukraine and the U.S., as well as Kyiv’s perceived reluctance to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
When asked about the shifting stance of U.S. foreign policy under Trump’s leadership, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state television that America’s approach now “aligns more closely with our perspective.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on ABC’s This Week, stated that he had not communicated with Zelenskyy since the controversial Oval Office meeting, though the U.S. had engaged with the Ukrainian president multiple times over the past ten days.
European leaders quickly rallied behind Zelenskyy, though many highlighted the necessity for Kyiv to maintain and repair its relationship with the U.S.
“The prime minister reaffirmed his steadfast support for Ukraine over the weekend and remains determined to secure an end to Russia’s unlawful war while ensuring a lasting peace based on Ukraine’s sovereignty and security,” Starmer’s office stated.
On Friday evening, Starmer spoke separately with both Zelenskyy and Trump in the wake of Ukraine’s difficult diplomatic encounter in Washington, which ended with the cancellation of a planned press conference and the Ukrainian delegation being asked to leave the White House.
Representatives from Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Czechia, and Romania, along with the NATO Secretary-General and the presidents of the European Commission and European Council, gathered in London for the summit.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed optimism about the discussions, identifying three key priorities: increasing immediate support for Ukraine, ensuring any peace deal is sustainable, and urging European nations to boost defense spending to maintain NATO’s strength.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this sentiment on X, stating, “Strength leads to peace, while weakness invites further conflict. We will stand by Ukraine while significantly reinforcing European defense capabilities.”
Zelenskyy, the last foreign leader to arrive at the meeting, was met with applause from the public and a warm welcome from Starmer.
In a separate discussion, Zelenskyy had a “productive” meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, where they formulated a joint strategy for securing a fair and lasting peace.
“The only party interested in prolonging this war is Putin,” Zelenskyy posted on X. “This is why maintaining unity around Ukraine and reinforcing our position with our allies—both in Europe and the U.S.—is crucial. Ukraine needs peace, strengthened by firm security guarantees.”
A statement from the UK government outlined the summit’s main objectives, which included further military assistance for Ukraine, tightening economic restrictions on Russia, and formulating a robust, long-term peace agreement that prevents future Russian aggression while establishing reliable security guarantees with international partners.
“In close cooperation with our allies, we must ramp up our preparations for Europe’s role in securing Ukraine’s future, alongside ongoing discussions with the United States,” Starmer declared.
Following Saturday’s discussions, Zelenskyy thanked Starmer for his warm and meaningful reception in London. He confirmed that Ukraine and the UK had signed an agreement granting Kyiv access to profits generated from Russian financial assets frozen in Britain.
“I deeply appreciate the unwavering support of the British people and government since the beginning of this war,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media. “We are fortunate to have such strategic allies and to share a unified vision of what a secure future should look like for everyone.”