UK, France working with Ukraine on plan to end war: Starmer
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Ukraine’s allies have been reaffirming their unwavering support for Kiev amid growing concerns that US President Donald Trump may abandon Ukraine during negotiations with Russia.
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France's President Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer chat ahead of a plenary meeting at a summit held at Lancaster House in central London on March 2, 2025 (AFP)
Britain and France are collaborating with Ukraine on a plan to end the war with Russia, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday, as European leaders convened for emergency talks following a diplomatic rift between Kiev and Washington.
Speaking ahead of a summit in London, which brought together more than a dozen European leaders to discuss the three-year-long conflict, Starmer emphasized the need for unity, warning against divisions among Ukraine’s allies.
He underscored that "nobody wants to see" a repeat of the tense exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Friday.
"We have to find a way that we can all work together. Because, in the end, we've had three years of bloody conflict. Now we need to get to that lasting peace," Starmer told the BBC.
The British Prime Minister announced that "the United Kingdom, along with France and possibly one or two others, will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting, and then we'll discuss that plan with the United States."
His Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni echoed this sentiment, stressing during her meeting with Starmer at Downing Street that "it is very, very important that we avoid the risk that the West divides."
Ukraine’s allies have been reaffirming their unwavering support for Kiev amid growing concerns that Trump may abandon Ukraine during negotiations with Russia.
On Saturday, Starmer extended a warm welcome to Zelensky in London, a day after the Ukrainian leader was rebuked at the White House. The British government also announced a new loan to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
The London summit gathers leaders from across continental Europe, including France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, and Turkiye, as well as representatives from NATO and the European Union.
With concerns mounting over the future of US support for NATO, discussions also focused on the need for Europe to enhance its defense cooperation.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk indicated that Warsaw could leverage its close ties with Washington to "transcend this dilemma" and encourage stronger US backing for Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte struck a positive tone ahead of the summit, affirming that European nations would ramp up defense spending to strengthen the alliance.
"All in Europe will need to give more," he stressed.
As Zelensky’s motorcade arrived in London on Saturday, a crowd of supporters gathered to cheer him on.
"You're very, very welcome here in Downing Street," Starmer told Zelensky before their 75-minute closed-door meeting.
The Ukrainian leader expressed deep gratitude to Britain and its people "for their tremendous support from the very beginning of this war."
Their discussions centered on Ukraine’s position and efforts to achieve a "lasting and just peace that will not allow Russia to use the ceasefire to rearm and attack again," according to a statement from Zelensky’s office.
The two leaders also announced a £2.26 billion ($2.84 billion) loan agreement to reinforce Ukraine’s defense capabilities to be repaid using profits from frozen Russian sovereign assets.
