Western leaders to work on Ukraine ceasefire and present plan to Trump, says Starmer
A group of EU leaders is working towards a peace plan for Ukraine that will be discussed with the US, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The prime minister opened Sunday’s summit of European nations by noting they were confronting a “once-in-a-generation moment for the security of Europe” and added: “We all need to step up.”
Speaking from Lancaster House in central London, Sir Keir said that although the conversation was moving towards peace, it was still important to ensure Ukraine could carry on fighting in the face of Russian aggression.
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“In my conversations in recent days, we agreed a group of us will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting, and then discuss that with the US and take it forward together,” he said.
“Even while Russia talks about peace, they are continuing their relentless aggression.
“That is the agenda and we need to agree what steps come out of this meeting to deliver peace through strength for the benefit of all. So, let’s get started.”
Earlier, the prime minister said it was the UK, France and Ukraine that would work on a ceasefire plan to present to the United States, in an apparent attempt to repair relations with Donald Trump following his bad-tempered clash with Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.
The prime minister, who visited Washington on Thursday, said he believed Mr Trump did want a “lasting peace” between Russia and Ukraine despite the unpleasant scenes earlier in the week.
Referring to the argument in the White House’s Oval Office on Thursday between Mr Trump, US vice president JD Vance and Ukrainian president Mr Zelenskyy, the PM said it made him feel “uncomfortable”.
“Nobody wants to see that,” he told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
On Friday night, Sir Keir phoned both Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy, saying his “driving purpose” is to “bridge this and get us back to the central focus”.
The following day the PM said he had “quite a long time with President Zelenskyy” before speaking to Mr Trump and French president Emmanuel Macron on the phone.
Asked why he still trusted the US president, Sir Keir 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.”
The prime minister said he was still pushing for a US “backstop” on Ukrainian security, adding that it was the subject of “intense” discussion.
And he said he was pursuing a “European element to security guarantees”.
“That’s why I’ve been forward-leaning on this about what we would do – and a US backstop,” he said.
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said his party would support sending British troops to Ukraine as peacekeepers in the event that a “credible” deal is struck.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said European nations need to “make sure that America does not disengage”, adding: “If we all get dragged into an escalation, America will get dragged into it eventually.”
She described Mr Zelenskyy as a “hero” and said her heart “went out to” him during the on-camera argument at the White House.
“I watched it and I couldn’t believe what was happening,” she said. “He was being humiliated.”
Such “difficult conversations” should not happen in front of the cameras, she added.
The summit being held today hosts the leaders of Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Canada, Finland and Romania.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told Sir Keir Starmer it is “very, very important that we avoid the risk that the West divides” as she arrived for talks at Number 10.
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, and Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan are also attending the summit.
It is hoped the meeting will help to get things “back on track”, a government source told Sky News.
However, they admitted there will be “more ups and downs” ahead.
“We must keep our eyes on the prize.”
The insider added that the government was “working yesterday to get [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy back to the table” and finish the minerals deal with the US.
That was thrown into question on Friday during the clash at the White House.
The source said: “We think it’s the right thing to do. Today is about getting European leaders to go beyond the Twitter rhetoric and step up on defence spending – prepare now for a world with no US security guarantee for Europe, not just in Ukraine.”