Europa busca respaldo de EE.UU. para medidas de paz en Ucrania.

British Prime Minister Keir StarmerEuropean leaders called on Sunday to double their defense efforts not only to help ensure peace in Ukraine but also stability across the continent, at a summit organized as a show of support for President Volodymyr Zelenski. However, he mentioned that the support and involvement of the United States were essential for the plan to work.

Only two days after Zelenski clashed with US President Donald Trump and cut short his visit to Washington, world leaders welcomed the Ukrainian leader in London, embracing him and pledging their support. The leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Romania, as well as the Foreign Minister. Summit held at Lancaster House in London under the slogan «shaping our future».

Also present were President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council António Costa, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. At a press conference after the summit, Starmer announced that Western allies of Ukraine will maintain the flow of military aid aimed at lasting peace to ensure the freedom and sovereignty of Ukraine.

He also reiterated the UK’s readiness to «put boots on the ground and planes in the air» to defend Ukraine if necessary, invoking a «coalition of volunteers» from other countries to do the same. Europe has to do the heavy lifting, but it must have firm US support, he said.

The summit took place two days after a disastrous bilateral meeting in the Oval Office where US President Trump and Vice President JD Vance scolded Ukrainian President Zelenski for not being grateful to the United States. They accused the Ukrainian president of disrespect after he called for a diplomatic solution with Russia. They did not sign an agreement on the development of Ukraine’s mineral resources that Kiev hoped Trump would encourage Ukraine’s war effort.

The meeting has left many political observers shocked in terms of the new alignment of the United States, as it has illustrated a sudden shift in US foreign policy towards Russia. At the exit of the summit, President of the European Commission von der Leyen said that Europe needs to position Ukraine from a position of strength, including economic, energy, and military resilience. She emphasized the «importance» of providing security guarantees to turn the war-torn country into a «steel fortress» that is «impregnable to potential invaders» like Russia.

Next, she discussed the need for «urgent» reform of the European Union and sparked an «increase» in defense spending to address the new geopolitical situation. «We need to step up» and «prepare for the worst,» she said. Von der Leyen mentioned that she would present a «comprehensive» defense plan to EU leaders when they meet on March 6, at an emergency summit in Brussels.

Prior to the Lancaster House summit, Starmer met at 10 Downing Street with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. It could be said that Meloni has the best relationship with Trump among all Western European leaders. Starmer and Meloni reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and agreed that «the UK and Italy will stand with them all the way,» according to the official statement.

After their meeting, Meloni stated that Italy and the UK can «bridge» between Europe and the United States, in an attempt to mend a rift exacerbated between Trump and Zelenski. «I think it is very important to avoid the risk of a divided West. And I think in this the UK and Italy can play an important role,» said Meloni, emphasizing the importance of unity in the West.

«I proposed a meeting between US and European leaders because if we are divided, we are all weaker. We both initially thought and I am sure we can do better on issues like security, defense, energy, and combating irregular immigration and traffickers,» added Meloni. In the morning, Starmer also spoke via video conference with Estonian President Alar Karis, Latvian Prime Minister Evaka Sil. He emphasized his interest in ensuring lasting peace in Ukraine that secures its future sovereignty, backed by strong security guarantees.

Lithuanian Nausėda called on the US and Ukraine to «return to the negotiating table along with Europeans» and supported the idea of a European peacekeeping force as a «possible element of security guarantees for Ukraine. We must not exempt efforts to maintain a strong transatlantic bond,» said Nausėda.