After a visit to the USA that ended in a public dispute with Donald Trump and JD Vance, Volodymyr Zelenskyi arrived to London for talks with European partners on security issues. The British media note that after a cold reception in Washington, London became a real “warm bath” for the Ukrainian president, as the allies provided him with maximum support. As you know, the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, initiated the summit even before the incident with Trump, but after the latest scandalous events, the list of topics for discussion has expanded significantly.
In addition to the European leaders, the representatives of Turkey and Canada took part in the meeting, while the leaders of the Baltic countries were not present. The reasons why these countries were not invited to the summit were not officially announced.
The Keir Starmer Plan: A Strategy for Ukraine and International Support
Keir Starmer presented a four-point plan to end the war. It provides for maintaining military support for Ukraine and increasing economic pressure on Russia to strengthen Kyiv’s defense capabilities. According to this plan, the conditions of a peaceful settlement should guarantee the sovereignty and security of Ukraine, and Ukraine itself should take a direct part in the negotiations. After the conclusion of the agreement, the defense capability of Ukraine should remain a priority in order to prevent future aggressions. It is also envisaged to create a “coalition of the willing” – a group of countries that will undertake to guarantee the implementation of the peace agreement and ensure stability in the region.
Despite the lack of specific details, Starmer believes that this plan could become the basis for negotiations with Trump on security guarantees from the United States. “I wouldn’t be proposing this plan if I didn’t believe it would help us act together“, the British Prime Minister emphasized. London has already declared its readiness to support the initiative with troops and aviation, calling on European countries to take the main burden of responsibility. At the same time, Starmer admitted that without the support of the United States, the implementation of this plan will be difficult.
After the summit, the Prime Minister of Great Britain refuted the opinion about the unreliability of the United States as an ally, stressing that the peace plan will be agreed with Washington before its implementation.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the truce, which could only be concluded by the US and Russia, and offered an alternative option – suspension combat operations in the air, at sea and in the energy sector for a period of one month.
Commenting on this proposal, Zelensky answered briefly: “I know everythingAt the same time, summarizing the results of the summit, he emphasized that the unity of Ukraine, Europe and the USA is a key prerequisite for any agreement, and security guarantees remain the most important factor for achieving peace.
Signals from Washington: is the USA preparing Kyiv for concessions?
Meanwhile, in the United States, there were renewed statements about possible negotiations and economic cooperation. In an interview with CNN, US Security Adviser Michael Walls emphasized that Zelenskyi should demonstrate readiness for negotiations and concessions.
“We need a leader who can negotiate with us, and in the future with Russia, to end this war. This will require territorial concessions from Ukraine, as well as certain obligations from Russia in the field of security“, Vols said.
US President Donald Trump on his social network True Social made repost blogger Michael McCune’s post, which claimed that Ukraine had no choice but to make concessions and accept Trump’s terms. The post also talked about a possible agreement on rare earth metals, which, according to the author, could become a kind of “security guarantee” for Ukraine, since the involvement of American companies in the extraction of minerals would make it impossible for a Russian invasion without threatening American interests.
Some analysts note that the repost on Trump’s social network may indicate his own position on this issue.
Starmer Between Trump and Europe: Security and Policy Challenges
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been unable to obtain security guarantees from Donald Trump, despite all diplomatic efforts, including an invitation from the king. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is considering the possibility of reducing or even completely canceling military aid to Ukraine, which could have serious consequences for the situation in Europe.
For Starmer, this crisis is a chance to strengthen ties with the EU, but he is forced to proceed cautiously due to domestic political risks. Labor is struggling not to lose voters who supported Brexit, especially given the rise in popularity of Nigel Farage’s anti-immigration party. At the same time, support for defense spending and aid to Ukraine could complicate the position of Farage, who is known for his support for Putin.
Despite London’s desire for closer economic relations with the EU, Brussels is in no hurry to revise existing trade agreements. The main challenge for Starmer remains the recovery of the British economy. Analysts warn that international activism will not bring him domestic support if the situation in the country does not improve.
Starmer’s use of the term “coalition of the willing” drew parallels with George W. Bush’s policies before the Iraq war, underscoring potential differences between Western countries. However, the threat of the US withdrawing its support from Ukraine may force Europe to act more unitedly. The former EU ambassador João Vale de Almeida notes that Great Britain is closer to Europe than to America in current realities.
Despite allied concerns, Starmer denies that the US has become an unreliable partner and continues to insist on preserving the transatlantic alliance.
Budrys: Not inviting the Baltic countries to the summit in London was a mistake
The lack of an invitation for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to the European summit in London was a mistake, said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kästutis Budris. This is reported by a popular Lithuanian news channel resource tv3.lt. Budrys emphasized that the Baltic countries should participate in similar events, as their contribution to the support of Ukraine is significant both in relative and absolute numbers. The Baltic countries are actively strengthening their own defense capabilities. As NATO’s frontline states, they directly experience the consequences of international security decisions.
Regarding the reason for the lack of invitation, the minister refrained from answering, but noted that the most important thing is to get assurances that similar situations will not be repeated. Recently, the region is often represented by Denmark. Why? Budrys explained that not all countries are always invited in the formats of international meetings, and then the region can be represented by one country. In the case of the Baltic and Nordic countries, this role has recently been played by Denmark, as it chairs the Baltic-Nordic Eight (NB8) this year. It is also expected that he will preside over the EU in the second half of the year.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that he was not offended by the lack of invitation. At the same time, his advisor Asta Skysgirite reported that during a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Nauseda expressed his displeasure, and the British leader apologized, promising to avoid such situations in the future.
Ukraine’s reaction: readiness for an agreement
After the statements of the American officials and the results of the summit in London, Zelensky, answering the questions of journalists before his departure, said that Ukraine is ready to sign an agreement on mineral extraction.
“Our policy is not to repeat past approaches. We are constructive. If we agree on an agreement on minerals, we will sign it. If the parties are ready, the agreement currently on the table will be signed“, he noted.
Ukrainian political scientist Maria Zolkina believes, that although the US and Ukraine are not “burning bridges” in their relations, Ukraine should prepare for turbulence. She emphasizes that the change in US policy regarding international events, in particular the war in Ukraine, changes the format of cooperation. Zolkina also points to the need for Europe to take more leadership in supporting Ukraine, relying on the United States as only one partner. She does not rule out the possibility of signing an agreement between Kyiv and Washington on rare earth metals if Trump continues to put pressure on Ukraine. In her opinion, European countries can negotiate with the United States so that they are more loyal to the position of Europe and Ukraine, if they offer a more active participation in the settlement after the so-called regime of silence, which the Trump administration seeks. If there is progress in this direction, then the mediation of Great Britain and France may be effective.
Therefore, further negotiations between Kyiv, Washington and European partners are gaining special importance. Will economic cooperation with the USA become part of a new security package for Ukraine? And what will be the terms of a possible truce? The answers to these questions can determine the next stage in relations between Ukraine and the West.
