European leaders commence a crucial summit to establish a Ukraine strategy following the recent White House clash between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Keir Starmer greeted Emmanuel Macron at Lancaster House in London to strengthen Nato and bolster the continent’s defenses against Russian aggression.
The leaders are anticipated to emphasize an increase in defense spending, with Sir Keir pushing for acknowledgment of the ‘harsh reality’ of the US scaling back military commitments.
A ‘coalition of the willing’ could be formed by European powers to enforce any peace deal with Russia, with proposals potentially being shared with Washington soon.
Earlier, Sir Keir held talks with Italy’s Giorgia Meloni in Downing Street, and had calls with premiers from the Baltic states.
As they sat down for discussions, Ms Meloni said she believed they could both help build ‘bridges’ with the US.
The summit – also being attended by Mr Zelensky – was already planned before the on-camera slanging with Mr Trump and his vice president JD Vance.
Mr Trump is said to be demanding a public apology from the Ukrainian president amid threats to pull the plug on US military support. In a sign he is keen to mend fences with the US, Mr Zelensky has described the president’s support for Ukraine as ‘crucial’.
Keir Starmer shook hands with Emmanuel Macron on the steps of Lancaster House in London as they look to shore up Nato and the continent’s defences from Russian aggression
Sir Keir and Mr Macron are thought to be taking the lead on drawing up new proposals for guaranteeing any peace deal with Russia
The summit – also being attended by Mr Zelensky – was already planned before the on-camera slanging with Mr Trump and his vice president JD Vance
The summit in London today was already planned before the extraordinary on-camera slanging match between Donald Trump, his vice president JD Vance and Mr Zelensky (pictured)
Nato chief Mark Rutte arriving for the summit in Lancaster House today
Polish PM Donald Tusk is among the leaders at the summit today
There have been calls for Mr Trump’s invite for an unprecedented state visit to the UK to be withdrawn, although No10 is adamant that will not happen. Sir Keir said this morning that it was a ‘matter for the King’.
Ms Meloni said that in a ‘precious moment’ it is ‘very important to talk to each other, to co-ordinate’.
She said: ‘We are all very committed about a goal that we all want to achieve, which is a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
‘I think it is very, very important that we avoid the risk that the West divides. I think on this the UK and Italy can play an important role in bridge-building.’
European leaders have been voicing solidarity with Mr Zelensky, who was warmly embraced by Sir Keir in Downing Street last night, as they try to find a way of repairing relations.
In an interview earlier this morning, the PM said he ‘trusted’ the US president and believed he wants a ‘lasting peace’.
Sir Keir said he was trying to act as a ‘bridge’ to resolve the differences and had ‘hit the phones’ in the wake of the extraordinary bust-up in Washington.
He told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that powers including France had now agreed to work together with Ukraine to draw up a potential peace deal with Russia, which would be presented to America.
Sir Keir suggested that ‘a coalition of the willing’ would have to guarantee any settlement on the ground, hinting that hopes of the US providing a security backstop have dwindled.
Earlier, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni was greeted warmly by Keir Starmer outside the famous black door of Downing Street
As they prepared for bilateral talks, the PM insisted that they approached issues from the ‘same mindset’
Ms Meloni said that in a ‘precious moment’ it is ‘very important to talk to each other, to co-ordinate’
Keir Starmer told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that powers including France had now agreed to work together with Ukraine to draw up a potential peace deal with Russia, which would be presented to America
Volodymyr Zelensky was warmly embraced by Keir Starmer in Downing Street last night (pictured), as they try to find a way of repairing relations with the US
They are also racing to fill the potential gap in European defences from the abrupt withdrawal of the world’s largest military and economic power.
Sir Keir said he was ‘rolling up my sleeves’ rather than ‘ramping up the rhetoric’ in response to the scenes in Washington.
‘I was in my office, and nobody wants to see that. Later that day, I then picked up the phone to President Trump, and I picked up the phone to President Zelensky, because, to my mind, focus has to be a lasting peace in Ukraine,’ he said.
He added: ‘Look, nobody wants to see that. Clearly, you know, there’s a lot of tension. The cameras were on.’
Sir Keir continued: ‘My driving purpose has been to to bridge this, if you like, and get us back to the central focus. And as a result of the meeting yesterday, we had quite a long time with President Zelensky, then President Macron and President Trump on the phone.
‘We’ve now agreed 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.’
The PM said he ‘felt uncomfortable’ watching the Oval Office footage but added: ‘The important thing is how to react to that. There are a number of different routes people could go down. One is to ramp up the rhetoric as to how outraged we all are or not.
‘The other is to do what I did, which is roll up my sleeves, pick up the phone, talk to President Trump, talk to President Zelensky, then invite President Zelensky for an extensive meeting yesterday, a warm welcome, and then further pick up the phone to President Macron and President Trump afterwards.
‘Because my reaction was we have to bridge this. 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.’
Of Mr Trump, the premier added: ‘I am clear in my mind that he does want a lasting peace.’
Sir Keir said: ‘What I am clear about is that if there is to be a deal, if there is to be a stopping of the fighting, then that agreement has to be defended, because the worst of all outcomes is that there is a temporary pause and then Putin comes again.
‘That has happened in the past, I think it is a real risk, and that is why we must ensure that if there’s a deal it is a lasting deal, not a temporary pause.’
A security guarantee from the Americans is the subject of ‘intense’ discussion, Sir Keir said.
He added: ‘For me, the components of a lasting peace are a strong Ukraine to fight on, if necessary, to be in a position of strength; to negotiate a European element to security guarantees, and that’s why I’ve been forward-leaning on this about what we would do; and a US backstop.
‘That’s the package, all three parts need to be in place, and that’s what I’m working hard to bring together.’
Pressed on why trusts Mr Trump, he said: ‘Because I’ve spoken to him a number of times. I’ve got to know him. I’ve had extensive discussions with him and I believe his motivation is lasting peace.’
He added: ‘If the central question you’re putting to me is do I trust Donald Trump when he says he wants lasting peace? The answer to that question is yes.
‘But, also, take a step back, the relationship between the US and the UK is the closest relationship of any two countries in the world, our defence, our security, our intelligence, are bound up one with another in a way that is not seen anywhere else in the world.’
Asked if he would trust Vladimir Putin, he said: ‘Well, no, I wouldn’t trust Putin, which is why I want a security guarantee.
‘I wouldn’t trust him not to come again, because he’s proven that he will come again. He’s already done it and we know what his ambitions are.’
Sir Keir is positioning himself as a bridge between Europe and Mr Trump after his successful visit to the White House last week.
In the opulent surroundings of Lancaster House, near Buckingham Palace, the PM will urge the 18 countries in attendance to boost defence spending.
He is expected to tell leaders they are ‘at a turning point’, and must recognise the ‘brutal reality’ and start taking action instead of making ‘carefully crafted speeches’.
In comments briefed ahead of the summit, Sir Keir said: ‘Today I will reaffirm my unwavering support for Ukraine and double down on my commitment to provide capacity, training and aid to Ukraine, putting it in the strongest possible position.
‘In partnership with our allies, we must intensify our preparations for the European element of security guarantees alongside continued discussions with the United States.
‘We have an opportunity to come together to ensure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine that secures their sovereignty and security. Now is the time for us to unite in order to guarantee the best outcome for Ukraine, protect European security and secure our collective future.’
Sir Keir pledged this week to raise the UK’s defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027, slashing the aid budget to free up the funding.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is also expected to cut £5billion from welfare and allow the £28billion national wealth fund to be invested in defence projects.
The summit comes after several days that saw the foundations of the Nato alliance – that has helped avoid world war for 80 years – shaken.
The clash between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky in the Oval Office was broadcast around the world on Friday, with the US President accusing his counterpart of ‘gambling with World War Three’ after Russia invaded.
It resulted in Ukraine’s president being kicked out of the White House and a deal to exchange mineral rights for further US military support put on ice.
Mr Trump said he would not be welcome until he was willing to talk about ‘peace’.
Reports in the US media suggested Mr Trump was even considering halting all aid to Kyiv after the meeting.
European leaders have rallied in a show of solidarity with Ukraine, while Sir Keir has repeatedly spoken to both presidents over the phone.
The PM welcomed Mr Zelensky to Downing Street yesterday in a meeting described as ‘meaningful and warm’ by the Ukrainian leader.
The two men embraced as they met, and again later as they parted, and Sir Keir took the unusual step of walking Mr Zelensky to his car, instead of waving him goodbye from the front step of No10.
France’s Emmanuel Macron (pictured on his own trip to Washington last week) and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni are among those assembling to consider how to shore up Nato and the continent’s defences from Russian aggression
Ms Reeves has signed a loan agreement worth £2.26billion with her Ukrainian counterpart, to pay for further military support and the rebuilding of Ukraine in future.
The UK hopes to recoup the costs from frozen Russian assets locked in bank accounts across Europe.
Mr Zelensky is expected to meet the King at his Sandringham estate in Norfolk this evening after attending the summit.
The embattled Ukrainian leader meets Charles days after Mr Trump was offered an unprecedented second state visit to the UK as part of a charm offensive aimed at winning the US president’s support.
Sir Keir spoke to Mr Trump last night for the second evening in a row, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron, as he seeks to be a bridge across the Atlantic and smooth out the ongoing division between Western allies.
Mark Rutte, Nato secretary general, told the BBC he urged Mr Zelensky to repair his relationship with the US president in a Friday-night phone call, as the alliance’s members ‘need to stick together’ against Russia.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned in a Telegraph newspaper article that America’s commitment to Europe ‘cannot now be taken for granted’, after urging Sir Keir to push for ‘concrete’ pledges during the summit.
