British Prime Minister Keir Starmer rallied his European counterparts on Sunday. He announced the framework of a plan to end Russia’s war. He hopes those leaders will throw their full weight behind Ukraine—without the United States.
Europe has been anxious since U.S. President Donald Trump began direct peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 12. For many European leaders, seeing their powerful ally appear to cozy up to Putin was troubling. The Russian dictator had been isolated by most Western leaders since invading Ukraine three years ago.
Meetings among various European leaders last week had provided some hope . . . until Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s White House trip on Friday.
The peace talk collapsed on live television. President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance said the Ukrainian president has challenged President Trump’s claims that Putin could be trusted. And when Zelenskyy asked that the details of the U.S.-Ukraine deal be made public, President Trump and Vance seemed insulted by the request.
President Trump alleged the Ukrainian leader wasn’t grateful enough for America’s support. The encounter seemed to indicate that U.S. backing of Ukraine might be at risk.
Starmer’s address to 18 fellow leaders came two days later in London.
“Every nation must contribute to that in the best way that it can, bringing different capabilities and support to the table,” Starmer said. “But all taking responsibility to act, all stepping up their own share of the burden.”
Starmer hopes to bridge the gap between Europe and the United States. He also wants to salvage what had seemed like the start of a peace process before Friday’s spat.
His Sunday speech says leaders would develop a “coalition of the willing” to defend Ukraine and guarantee peace.
“Not every nation will feel able to contribute, but that can’t mean that we sit back,” Starmer said. He notes “the real urgency” of making plans to help Ukraine.
He continued by saying that his country “is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others.” Starmer did note that the plan would require strong U.S. backing.
During his Sunday press conference, Starmer rejected the suggestion that the United States was no longer a reliable ally.
Starmer told the BBC before the summit that he does not trust Putin but does trust President Trump.
“There are no two countries as closely aligned as our two countries and our defense, our security, and intelligence is intertwined in a way no two other countries are, so it’s an important and reliable ally for us,” he said.
It is unknown whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will accept any peace plan. “If there is to be a stopping of the fighting, then that agreement has to be defended,” Starmer says. After all, he says, “The worst of all outcomes is that there is a temporary pause and then Putin comes again.”
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