Starmer gathers European leaders in London to discuss Trump's plan.
On Sunday, March 2, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host leaders from Italy, Germany, Poland, and other allies, possibly including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. They will discuss Donald Trump's peace initiative regarding Ukraine. This is reported by Reuters, as conveyed by UNN.
Details
The publication notes that the U.S. President has compelled Europe to reassess its security approach by unexpectedly stating that European nations must increase their defense spending and take responsibility for their own security.
The meeting in London will take place shortly after Starmer returns from talks with Trump in Washington, scheduled for Thursday, February 27. The British Prime Minister hopes that his commitment to increasing the defense budget will help maintain strong relations between the two allies.
Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Trump as part of European efforts to persuade him not to rush into a peace agreement with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, allowing room for the involvement of Europe and Ukraine, and to discuss military guarantees for Kyiv.
He also added that coordination is extremely important. He is greatly impressed by the lessons the EU and Britain should learn from Ukraine regarding how allies can better coordinate their actions to support Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Additional Information
Starmer confirmed on Tuesday that a meeting will take place in London over the weekend to discuss joint actions among allies in response to the current situation. However, his representative stated on Wednesday that it is still too early to say who will participate in the summit.
European leaders, including Starmer, held an emergency meeting in Paris earlier this month to discuss increasing defense spending. However, they disagreed on the possibility of deploying peacekeeping forces in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated at a press conference that he would attend the London meeting if his visit to Washington for talks with Trump on Friday also takes place.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that he plans to join the meeting in London. He is expected to be joined by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. According to Dutch media reports, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof will also participate in the summit.
Meanwhile, Trump has already begun negotiations with Russia regarding a ceasefire agreement and has sharply criticized Zelensky. In response, European leaders have intensified diplomatic efforts, demonstrating a united stance in support of Kyiv.
Despite this, European plans regarding security guarantees for Ukraine that would maintain peace largely depend on the willingness of the U.S. to provide a specific deterrent mechanism to prevent a new Russian attack.
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