On March 2, 2025, leaders from across Europe gathered at Lancaster House in London for a summit on European security and the situation in Ukraine. Attendees included British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other key European leaders, along with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. REUTERS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that European leaders had agreed to create a peace plan for Ukraine, which would be presented to the United States. The goal is for the U.S. to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, a crucial step to deter further aggression from Russia.
This announcement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's brief visit to Washington, where he had a tense meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. European leaders gathered in London to show strong support for Ukraine and pledged to do more to help. At the summit, they discussed increasing defense spending to convince Trump that Europe could protect itself, without solely relying on the U.S. for defense.
Starmer, who warmly welcomed Zelensky with a hug, said that Britain, Ukraine, France, and other countries would form a "coalition of the willing" to create the peace plan. He stressed that it was time to act and create a lasting peace agreement for the region. However, the leaders did not provide specific details on what the plan would include.
Before the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned that the plan could involve a one-month ceasefire, covering air and sea attacks but not ground combat. If a more substantial peace agreement is reached, European troops might be deployed. It was unclear whether all countries had agreed to these terms.
Zelensky said after the meeting that he felt assured of Europe's support and willingness to cooperate. He also emphasized that Ukraine would not give up any territory to Russia in a peace deal. He remained open to working with the U.S. on a minerals deal, despite his recent disagreement with Trump.
The tensions between Zelensky and Trump raised concerns in Europe about the U.S. potentially withdrawing support for Ukraine. European leaders are working hard to ensure that Ukraine remains part of any future peace talks. They are also trying to convince Trump to continue supporting Ukraine, especially as the U.S. has been critical of the ongoing war.
Several European leaders called for an increase in defense spending. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said that Europe needed to invest in defense to make sure it could protect itself from potential threats. She stated that Europe should focus on strengthening its defense to deter potential invaders.
The European leaders also discussed how to handle the lack of sufficient weaponry in Europe. While the U.S. has stronger military resources, Europe hopes to show Trump that it can defend itself, but that Russia will only adhere to any peace agreement if it has the backing of the U.S.
Meanwhile, Trump has caused concern in Europe by casting doubt on U.S. support for Ukraine. He has questioned whether Ukraine is truly committed to securing a lasting peace with Russia. His recent actions, such as contacting Putin and sending a delegation to Saudi Arabia to talk to Russia, have raised questions about the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations.
Starmer said that European leaders were also committed to ensuring that Ukraine would be involved in any peace talks and that the country would continue to strengthen its own defense capabilities. He stressed that while Europe must take the lead in this effort, U.S. backing is essential for success.
