Starmer assembles ‘coalition of the willing’ to present Ukraine peace plan to the US

The United Kingdom, France, and Ukraine have agreed to collaborate on a ceasefire proposal to be presented to the United States, following a tense diplomatic exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump.

At a summit in London on Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged European leaders to seize a “once-in-a-generation moment” to ensure the security of the continent. The meeting, aimed at strengthening military cooperation and reaffirming support for Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia, took place just two days after Zelenskyy’s heated encounter with Trump led to the Ukrainian leader cutting short his visit to Washington.

European leaders emphasised the need for increased defence spending to demonstrate that the continent can protect itself. With many nations facing financial strain, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested easing the EU’s debt rules to allow for a surge in military investment.

Starmer announced that the UK, France, Ukraine, and other willing nations would form a “coalition of the willing” to draft a peace plan for presentation to Trump. While he did not specify which additional nations might join, he stressed the growing support for the initiative.

“We are at a crossroads in history today,” Starmer declared. “This is not a moment for more talk. It’s time to act. Time to step up and lead, and to unite around a new plan for a just and enduring peace.”

As part of the UK’s commitment, Starmer unveiled a deal enabling Ukraine to utilise £1.6 billion ($2 billion) in UK export finance to acquire over 5,000 air defence missiles. He underscored that “Europe must do the heavy lifting” in securing peace but insisted that American support was essential.

“But to support peace in our continent, and to succeed, this effort must have strong US backing,” he added.

Starmer outlined three key pillars for a successful peace agreement: equipping Ukraine to negotiate from a position of strength, ensuring European security guarantees, and securing a “US backstop” to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from reneging on commitments.

While calling on European allies to boost military spending, Starmer rejected suggestions that this signified waning confidence in the US as an ally. “No two countries are more closely aligned than the UK and the US,” he asserted.

The summit was attended by representatives from Germany, Denmark, Italy, Turkey, NATO, and the European Union. Following the meeting, von der Leyen stressed the urgent need for Europe to rearm, arguing that EU member states should be granted fiscal flexibility to enhance their defence capabilities.

“After a long time of underinvestment, it is now of utmost importance to step up the defence investment for a prolonged period of time,” she told reporters.

Despite recent tensions, Zelenskyy expressed confidence that his relationship with Trump would endure. “As regards salvaging the relationship, I think our relationship will continue,” he said via a translator.

Zelenskyy reaffirmed his openness to “constructive dialogue” with the Trump administration and remained willing to sign a mineral deal that had been expected to be finalised in Washington on Friday. The Ukrainian leader hailed the summit as a demonstration of “European unity at an extremely high level not seen for a long time.”

“We are all working together in Europe in order to find a basis for cooperation with America for a true peace and guaranteed security,” he wrote on Telegram.

Diplomatic efforts are also underway to shore up US support for Ukraine while considering alternative strategies.

“There are a number of different proposals floating around. The Italians want an EU-US summit to take place, a proposal backed by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk,” Bays reported. “Meanwhile, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is suggesting that Turkey lead peace talks between Russia and Ukraine under Turkish auspices.”

Peter Zalmayev, executive director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative, urged more nations to follow the UK and France in providing security guarantees.

“I certainly hope they will because if Europe did not wake up this time, it will never wake up,” he stated from Kyiv. “We are talking about concrete actions and creative solutions, even if they sometimes go against the norms regulating financial transactions.”

The UK-hosted meeting precedes a European Commission summit in Brussels on Thursday, where a new defence package for Europe, including additional support for Ukraine, is expected to be announced. The package is designed to reinforce Ukraine’s defences and regional security, underscoring the need for a robust, long-term agreement to safeguard Kyiv’s sovereignty.

Zelenskyy arrived in London on Saturday, where he was welcomed by Starmer. The two leaders embraced before unveiling a $2.84 billion loan agreement to strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities, funded by profits from frozen Russian assets.

His visit to London followed a strained meeting at the White House, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticised Zelenskyy for rejecting proposed truce terms and accused him of lacking gratitude. Trump warned that Zelenskyy’s position could escalate the war into a global conflict.

Despite the tense discussions, Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to its strategic partnership with the US.

“Despite the tough discussions, we remain strategic partners,” he wrote on X after the meeting. “But honesty and directness are essential to understanding our shared goals.”