Key Points
- Keir Starmer says Europe will draft a Ukraine peace plan to present to the US.
- EU leaders pledged stronger support for Ukraine after Zelenskyy's clash with Donald Trump.
- Europe plans to increase defence spending to show it can protect itself.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer said European leaders had agreed to draw up a Ukraine peace plan to take to the United States, a vital step for the US to be able to offer security guarantees Ukraine says are vital to deter Russia.
At a summit in London just two days after and cut short a visit to Washington, world leaders offered a strong show of support to the Ukrainian president and promised to do more to help his country.
Starmer said "Europe must do the heavy lifting" in securing peace in Ukraine, as he indicated several countries were ready to help defend any truce.
He said leaders at the summit agreed on four important steps:
- To keep military aid flowing and increase economic pressure on Russia
- Any peace deal must ensure Ukraine's sovereignty and security, and Ukraine must be at the table
- In the event of a peace deal, European leaders will keep boosting Ukraine's own defensive capabilities to deter any future invasion
- A "coalition of the willing" will be built to defend a deal in Ukraine and to guarantee peace
European leaders agreed they must spend more on defence to show Trump the continent can protect itself, and with many nations struggling with already stretched public finances, the European Commission chief suggested the bloc could ease its rules around debt.
Starmer, who welcomed a visibly shaken Zelenskyy on Saturday with a warm hug, said Britain, Ukraine, France and some other nations would form a "coalition of the willing" and draw up a peace plan to take to Trump. He did not mention which other nations, but said more countries were willing to join.
"We are at a crossroads in history today," Starmer said. "This is not a moment for more talk. It's time to act. Time to step up and lead and to unite around a new plan for a just and enduring peace."
After Trump's shouting match with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office raised fears of the US pulling support for Ukraine and instead imposing a peace plan negotiated with Russia, Europe is scrambling to ensure Ukraine is not squeezed out of any talks.
To do so, several leaders said they must increase defence spending — something that could help bring Trump on side to offer a US security guarantee in the event of peace.
"After a long time of underinvestment, it is now of utmost importance to step up the defence investment for a prolonged period of time," European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told reporters.
"Member states need more fiscal space to do a surge in defence spending," she said, adding Europe needed to turn "Ukraine into a steel porcupine that is indigestible for potential invaders".
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said leaders agreed Europe needed to take on more responsibility and start bearing the burden of "more spending on its defence budgets within NATO".
He added the leaders all agreed they must keep close ties with the US.
Lacking weaponry, stocks
Lacking the weaponry and depth of ammunition stocks of the US, Europe hopes to convince Trump it can defend itself, but that Russia will only adhere to a peace deal that comes with the US backing.
Talks with the US have centred on its role as a so-called backstop for a European peacekeeping mission, possibly in the form of air cover, intelligence and surveillance and a greater as yet unspecified threat if Russian President Vladimir Putin again sought to take more territory.
But crucial to getting any agreement from Trump is for European nations to increase defence spending and signal they would take part in any peacekeeping role — something Starmer acknowledged was difficult to get unanimity on.
Starmer increased defence spending before his visit to Washington last week, and NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte said some European leaders had privately set out new plans on defence spending at the meeting but he declined to give details.
