LONDON — European leaders gathered in London on Sunday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following a tempestuous White House meeting that thrust United States-Ukraine relations further into crisis.
During a news conference following the summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “we have to learn from the mistakes of the past” and can’t “accept a weak deal” that Russia can break. All European countries must contribute to making a strong deal and “step up their own share of the burden,” Starmer added.
Starmer outlined a plan to support Ukraine, including continuing the flow of aid to Ukraine and keeping up economic pressure on Russia. He said any lasting peace agreement must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, and Ukraine must be at the negotiating table.
In the event of a deal, Starmer said Europe will continue to help Ukraine militarily to deter any future military action by Russia. He also said there will be a “coalition of the willing” to help defend Ukraine.
Starmer said the United Kingdom is ready to back the plan with boots on the ground and planes in the air. He said he also recognizes that not all countries will be able to make this kind of commitment.
Starmer said that for a deal to work, it will need strong U.S. backing.
“We are working on a durable peace,” Starmer said.
When asked by a reporter about whether President Donald Trump would support the plan’s framework, Starmer said he spoke to Trump “last night” and that he “wouldn’t be going down this road if I didn’t think it had a chance.”
Starmer also introduced a £2.2 billion loan — about $2.7 billion U.S. — for Ukraine, backed by profits from Russian assets that his government announced on Saturday.
Zelenskyy also met with King Charles III on Sunday at Sandringham House, Buckingham Palace said.
In a statement released Sunday evening, Zelenskyy thanked the European leaders for the London summit, saying: “We are discussing with our partners security guarantees and the conditions for a just peace for Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy said a series of important meetings are being prepared in the “near future.”
A special European Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday to discuss Ukraine, to which Zelenskyy has been invited.
“We feel strong support for Ukraine, for our people — both soldiers and civilians, and our independence,” Zelenskyy said. “Together, we are working in Europe to establish a solid foundation for cooperation with the United States in pursuit of true peace and guaranteed security.”
Earlier, Starmer told BBC News that he had agreed with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron that the U.K. and France would work on a Ukraine peace plan to then be presented to — and discussed with — the U.S. The prime minister added that “one or two” other nations may be involved in drafting the plan “to stop the fighting.”
In a statement, Starmer’s office said the prime minister will “intensify his efforts in pursuit of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine” while hosting Sunday’s summit in the British capital.
Zelenskyy arrived in the U.K. on Saturday, straight from his visit to Washington, D.C., in which an Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance descended into an open argument in front of gathered reporters.
Trump and Vance lambasted Zelenskyy, falsely accusing Ukraine of starting the war with Russia, which began when Moscow troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The American leaders also expressed frustration over a proposed minerals extraction deal with the U.S. and Kyiv’s alleged unwillingness to reach a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.