March 3, 2025
We’ve agreed that the UK, France and others will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting. Then we’ll discuss that plan with the United States and take it forward together.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announcing a framework for a peace plan by a “coalition of the willing” at the press conference following the summit of European leaders.
What Happened: Following the heated White House meeting between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, European leaders gathered on Sunday in a meeting hosted by the U.K. to discuss Europe’s role in securing the end of the war in Ukraine.
PM Starmer outlined the following four key points of agreement among the European leaders in attendance from France, Germany, Ukraine, Canada, Poland, Sweden, Turkey, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Finland, Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands:
- Maintaining the flow of military aid to Ukraine while intensifying economic pressure on Russia
- Ensuring that any lasting peace upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, with Ukraine participating in all peace talks
- Strengthening Ukraine’s defensive capabilities after a peace deal to prevent future invasions
- Developing a “coalition of the willing” to uphold any agreement and guarantee long-term peace in Ukraine
Laying out the plan, PM Starmer said that while every European partner will step up to “their own share of the burden,” the United Kingdom is “prepared to back this with boots on the ground, and planes in the air.” He added that while “Europe must do the heavy lifting,” in order for the effort to succeed, it “must have strong U.S. backing.”
Read More: UK’s Starmer says Europe is at ‘crossroads in history’ as leaders agree to steps to Ukraine peace (AP)
PM remarks at international leaders’ summit press conference: 2 March 2025
by Courtney Lesskis, based in Texas
