London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that Europe is facing a defining moment in history as leaders from across the continent commit to bolstering their military capabilities and ensuring Ukraine is well-defended against Russian aggression.
Amid uncertainty over continued U.S. support for Ukraine, European leaders convened in London on Sunday to discuss strategies for ending the war. The UK and France have now pledged to develop a peace plan in collaboration with Ukraine, with Starmer emphasizing that he would not pursue this path without confidence in American backing.
As part of the UK's commitment, Starmer announced a $3.2 billion military aid package, which includes the production of air defense missiles in Northern Ireland for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the summit, just days after a tense Oval Office meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. On Sunday, he also met with King Charles III at Sandringham.
Speaking after the summit, Starmer stressed that Russia must not be allowed to dictate the terms of any peace settlement.
"Our priority is to ensure Ukraine negotiates from a position of strength," he stated. "That means increasing our support now."
European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining military aid to Ukraine, applying economic pressure on Russia, and strengthening Ukraine’s defenses to prevent future invasions. Starmer also urged European nations to consider deploying peacekeeping forces once a deal is reached, warning against repeating past mistakes.
"The UK is ready to play its part—with troops on the ground and aircraft in the sky—alongside our allies. Europe must take responsibility for its own security," he said.
Following the summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for long-term security guarantees to transform Ukraine into a formidable force, describing it as a "steel porcupine" that would be impenetrable to potential aggressors. She also called for a rapid increase in European defense spending to address critical security gaps.
"We stand united with the U.S. in defending democracy and upholding international law. No nation should be allowed to invade or intimidate its neighbor," von der Leyen said.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, speaking to the media, insisted that the NATO alliance remains strong but acknowledged that relations with the U.S. have become more "transactional." He noted that the tense Oval Office meeting mirrored private discussions he had previously witnessed but conceded that the public confrontation was damaging to Western unity and beneficial to Russia.
Meanwhile, U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz dismissed claims that the meeting between Trump, Vance, and Zelenskyy was an "ambush." Instead, he accused Zelenskyy of being unwilling to negotiate in "good faith" to end the war.
Despite concerns over shifting U.S. foreign policy, Starmer rejected the notion that America was becoming an unreliable ally.
As European leaders gathered in London, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Trump’s "pragmatic" approach to resolving the Ukraine conflict. Russian state media and officials expressed satisfaction over the Oval Office tensions, interpreting them as a victory for Moscow.
"Donald Trump prioritizes common sense," Lavrov said in an interview with Russian military newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda. "His approach signals a shift in the way things are done."
Lavrov also dismissed the idea of deploying European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, arguing that past ceasefire agreements had failed and that such a move would not address the root causes of the conflict.
"They want to support [Zelenskyy] with their military forces disguised as peacekeepers. This will not resolve the fundamental issues," Lavrov asserted.
