British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated on Sunday that European leaders agreed to develop a peace plan for Ukraine, which will be presented to the United States. This is a vital step for Washington to provide the security guarantees needed to deter Russia.
Europe, not possessing the same weaponry and ammunition stockpiles as the US, hopes to convince Trump that it can defend itself, but that Russia will adhere to a peace agreement only with the support of the United States.
At the summit in London, held just two days after a confrontation at the White House between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump with J.D. Vance, European leaders firmly declared their support for the Ukrainian president and promised to do more to help his country. They decided that they must spend more on defense to show Trump that the continent can protect itself, and the head of the European Commission proposed that the bloc ease rules limiting debt levels.
"Now is not the time for unnecessary talk. It is time to act. Time to take the lead and unite around a new plan to achieve a just and lasting peace," said Starmer.
He also stated that the UK, Ukraine, France, and some other countries will form a "coalition of the willing" and develop a peace plan to be handed over to Trump. "Now is not the time for unnecessary talk. It is time to act. Time to take the lead and unite around a new plan to achieve a just and lasting peace," said Starmer.
Before the start of the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron told the newspaper Le Figaro that the plan provides for an initial one-month truce "in the air and at sea," as well as a moratorium on strikes against energy facilities. According to him, the ceasefire will not affect ground combat, as the length of the front line is "comparable to the distance from Paris to Budapest" and it will be "extremely difficult" to verify compliance with the agreement over such a stretch of territory. This will be the first step towards peace, after which European troops are planned to be deployed in Ukraine, noted the French president.
As a further sign of support for the Ukrainian leader by European countries, Zelensky later on Sunday flew to meet with King Charles III at his private residence in eastern England.
"We need peace, not an endless war. That is why we say that security guarantees are the key to this. In the near future, all of us in Europe will define our common positions—the lines we must reach and the lines we cannot compromise on. These positions will be presented to our partners in the United States," said Volodymyr Zelensky after the summit.
Photo: Reuters