British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that the United Kingdom, France, and Ukraine have agreed to work together on a ceasefire plan to be presented to the United States.
The agreement comes as Starmer prepares to host a summit of European leaders aimed at strengthening defense and restoring peace talks in Ukraine.
“We’ve now agreed that the United Kingdom, along with France and possibly one or two others, will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting, and then we’ll discuss that plan with the United States,” Starmer told the BBC. He stressed that the focus would be on re-engaging with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and French President Emmanuel Macron, rather than escalating rhetoric.
The summit, set to take place at Lancaster House in London—a historic mansion near Buckingham Palace—will include leaders from across Europe, including representatives from France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Romania. The meeting will also be attended by the Turkish foreign minister, NATO’s secretary-general, and the presidents of both the European Commission and the European Council.
Starmer’s comments come in the wake of a widely publicized exchange at the White House on Friday, when President Trump sharply reprimanded President Zelenskyy for expressing gratitude over U.S. support in Ukraine’s battle against Russia. Despite that incident, Starmer expressed trust in Trump’s commitment to peace. “Do I believe Donald Trump when he says he wants lasting peace? The answer to that is yes,” he said.
The summit is viewed as a crucial step for Europe to back its war-torn ally while enhancing its own defenses. Discussions are expected to include proposals for establishing a European military force—a “coalition of the willing”—that could help underpin any ceasefire agreement. Experts note that, with the United States recently signaling neutrality in negotiations, Europe may need to assume a larger role. Some have even suggested that the release of up to 200 billion euros in seized Russian assets could help fund such efforts.
In addition to the ceasefire plan, European leaders at the summit are expected to discuss increased defense spending. Starmer has pledged to boost U.K. military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, while Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala called on European nations to reach at least 3% of GDP. French President Macron, emphasizing the need for a more sovereign and united Europe, also stressed the importance of ramping up defense investments.
As negotiations continue, Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, noting the enthusiastic public backing evident during recent meetings with Zelenskyy. “We stand with you, with Ukraine, for as long as it may take,” he said.
With the summit underway, European leaders are positioning themselves to play a leading role in achieving a lasting ceasefire and ensuring that Ukraine negotiates from a position of strength, even as challenges remain amid shifting international alliances and defense priorities.
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