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Ukraine will work with Europe to design a plan to “stop fighting” with Russia before presenting a peace plan for US President Donald Trump, said UK Prime Minister Sir Starmer Sunday.
Starmer, speaking at the BBC, said: “We have agreed that the United Kingdom, along with France and perhaps one or two others, will work with Ukraine in a plan to stop fighting. Then we will discuss that plan with SH.BA”
Speaking to a European leaders’ summit in London, Starmer said that a “European willing coalition” – led by the United Kingdom and France – would then offer to place troops on the ground in Ukraine to protect any ceasefire.
However, Starmer admitted that he had not received a guarantee from Trump that the US would provide a military “background” for such European force – a protection that UK leader Insiston is essential to prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from attacking Ukraine again.
Starmer held talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday and then discussed with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron a possible way ahead of Friday’s debut at the White House when the US president clashed with the Ukraine leader.
Starmer said an agreement between European leaders on a security guarantee for Ukraine should be led by a “will coalition” when it came to securing support.
“We have to find those places in Europe that are prepared to be more supported forward, rather than moving at the pace of every single member, any single country in Europe, which would eventually be a slow pace,” Starmer said.
“This is not an exception – the more better – but we have to move on in a faster, more versatile way forward.”
Starmer also said he had taken a “important step forward” towards softening tensions and reaching an agreement between Trump and Zelenskyy during some phone calls with both leaders over the weekend.
He added that he was sure that “President Trump wants lasting peace” and can be trusted, saying, “He clearly said he would have our back.”
“European countries need to do more and give a guarantee of security and that is what I am discussing with President Macron and others today … But I have always been clear that this will need a background in the US,” he said.
Starmer said teams in the UK and the US were discussing the ways Trump could help to secure any peace agreement, though the US president has always made it clear that he sees it as the responsibility of European nations.
“Many people are urging me to choose between the SHBA on the one hand and the EU on the other. Wrong choice, “he said.” As a place we have never done it, as a work party, we have never done it and should not do it now. ”
He added: “We are in this position to have a special relationship with SH.BA, to have a strong relationship with Europe, we must both preserve them.”
Downing Street is waiting for attendees at Sunday’s Summit to include German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as well as European Commission President Ursula Der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is also expected to participate.
The summit will take place in Lancaster House, a nineteenth -century residence near the Buckingham Palace in Central London. Starmer will also call on the leaders of the three Baltic states.
A French official said last week that the early indications were that the United Kingdom and France are likely to provide the largest contingents in any stabilization force after the Truce, but there may be assistance offers from some other countries.
