UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a high-profile summit at Lancaster House in London, bringing together 18 world leaders to discuss a new plan for peace in Ukraine, according to The Guardian.
The meeting, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and other key figures, underscored Europe’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and finding a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Starmer emphasised that Europe was at a “crossroads in history” and called for decisive action to support Ukraine. He announced an additional £1.6 billion in UK export finance for Ukraine, which would be used to purchase over 5,000 air defence missiles manufactured in Belfast.
The funding builds on a £2.2 billion loan announced earlier, aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defence capabilities and protecting critical infrastructure.
The UK and its allies are committed to ensuring Ukraine has the resources to defend itself and secure a lasting peace. Starmer stressed that any peace deal must be backed by strength to prevent Russia from violating it.
I hope you know that we are all with you and the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes. Everyone around this table.
While Europe is prepared to take the lead in supporting Ukraine, Starmer acknowledged the critical role of the United States. He revealed that he had discussed the plan with former US President Donald Trump, who agreed on the urgent need for a durable peace.
The discussions we have had today, particularly on the coalition of the willing is on the basis that this is a plan that we will work on with the US. That is the purpose of the plan.
Starmer described the US as a “strong and reliable ally” and emphasised the importance of transatlantic cooperation in delivering a sustainable solution. He also proposed forming a “coalition of the willing” to support Ukraine, with the UK prepared to contribute military personnel and resources.
The UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air together with others, Europe must do the heavy lifting.
The summit highlighted the need for long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. Starmer pledged that, even in the event of a peace deal, the UK and its allies would continue to bolster Ukraine’s defensive capabilities to deter future hostilities.
This is not a moment for more talk, it’s time to act, time to step up and lead. And united around a new plan for a just and enduring peace.
Criticism in Europe
The London summit marks a significant step in coordinating international efforts to support Ukraine and achieve a lasting peace. However, European politicians and activists doubted the success of the summit, seeing it as just another meeting with no visible results.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, an LFI leader and a former MEP, harshly condemned the meeting.
The London meeting is a summit of emptiness. All this to say that the alliance with Trump must be strengthened, European pillar of NATO, blah blah blah. The PS Starmer is counting on the Italian fascist ‘Giorgia’ with whom ‘he gets along well’ to join the herd of the war economy that ‘will create jobs.’ The disaster-stricken Réunion knows where the public money will go… World of lunatics.
He also denounced the summit for taking place in “the only country that has left the EU” and called European independence from the US “bogus.”
Meanwhile, Italy’s former PM Giuseppe Conte lashed out at incumbent PM Giorgia Meloni, accusing her of lacking a peace initiative from Italy on the issue of peace in Ukraine.
The mention of a peace plan from Great Britain and France for Ukraine. And Meloni? In fact, none arrived. She is waiting for instructions from Washington: before the summit she tried to call Trump but the instructions are not yet clear, she anticipated that she will fly to Washington soon to get a better explanation.
Conte also accused Meloni of trying to involve NATO in the direct war against Russia.
In the meantime, she [Meloni] fires off the first thought that comes to mind, even the most bizarre, such as the application of art. 5 for Ukraine without entry into NATO. Which would mean exempting Ukraine from the obligations of the Alliance but recognising its right to take us to war.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, leader of the party Debout la France (France Arise), for his part blasted French President Emmanuel Macron for baselessly accusing Russia of trying to “invade Romania.”
Macron is once again escalating the debate by accusing Russia of wanting to invade Romania, which is totally impossible. France has nothing to gain in this crazy war pushed by Brussels. Only [Hungary’s] @PM_ViktorOrban has understood the situation and is acting for peace. Let’s follow his example!
The French Les Républicains party’s François-Xavier Bellamy, however, condemned Europe for its “weaknesses,” which unclude too much reliance on the US.
What is happening in the United States is a mirror that reflects our own weaknesses. Europeans thought they could sleep soundly because the global world order was ensured by their American ally: that’s over. Europe is at an existential crossroads. Our countries will have to rebuild their defence, their trade policy, their strategic priorities. And above all, redefine their place and responsibility in the world.
The London summit showcased efforts by European leaders to convene to demonstrate unanimous support for Ukraine. However, Starmer’s attempts were overshadowed by dissent from some of his counterparts, as well as widespread criticism across Europe of the EU’s failure to offer a substantive solution to the war in Ukraine that would satisfy all warring parties.
