European leaders have devised a strategy to present a unified Ukraine peace proposal to the United States, according to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This initiative is considered crucial for the U.S. to extend security guarantees to Kyiv, which views such assurances as pivotal in deterring Russian aggression.
The announcement comes in the wake of a summit in London, held shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s tense interaction with U.S. President Donald Trump led to an abrupt end to his visit to Washington. At the summit, European leaders rallied around Zelenskiy, pledging increased support for Ukraine’s cause.
Europe Stresses Defense Spending Uplift in Bid to Solidify Security
Acknowledging the need to showcase Europe’s self-defense capabilities to President Trump, European leaders committed to elevating their defense budgets. European Commission officials also suggested the possibility of relaxing fiscal constraints to facilitate this goal.
Prime Minister Starmer, who shared a heartfelt moment with Zelenskiy upon his arrival, announced the formation of a “coalition of the willing” involving the UK, Ukraine, France, and other nations to draft a peace blueprint suitable for U.S. consideration.
Zelenskiy Secures European Backing, Stands Firm on Territorial Integrity
While specific details of the peace proposal remain under wraps, French President Emmanuel Macron indicated before the summit that the plan might propose a one-month ceasefire excluding ground confrontations. Macron floated the idea of deploying European troops contingent on achieving a more comprehensive peace accord, though consensus on these measures remains uncertain.
Following the summit, Zelenskiy expressed confidence in European support and pledged continued diplomatic efforts towards peace. He reiterated that Ukraine would not concede territory as part of any peace negotiations, while affirming his openness to pursuing mineral agreements with the United States.
