UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday plans for a UK-France initiative to craft a lasting peace plan for Ukraine, following the public debacle between US President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky last week.
This step is signaling a push for greater European leadership in resolving the ongoing conflict, with the UK returning into the European spotlight following Brexit.
What is the plan for the UK and France
Speaking on the BBC, Starmer emphasized the importance of Europe in stepping up its role in global diplomacy, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine, which has devastated the region since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The UK premier is joining those growing calls for European nations to take more responsibility in addressing international crises rather than relying heavily on the United States.
“We’ve now agreed that the UK, 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 on Sunday morning.
Starmer revealed that he engaged in a day of high-stakes diplomacy on Saturday, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s tense meeting in Washington, where he was publicly confronted by Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance.
The British PM welcomed Zelensky to Downing Street before reaching out to both French President Emmanuel Macron and Trump in an effort to demonstrate unwavering support for Ukraine while attempting to mend strained relations between Kyiv and Washington.
Prime Minister Starmer hugs Zelensky as he welcomes him to 10 Downing Street.
That is how you welcome the leader of the free world. pic.twitter.com/yGsgFLaNWn
— Adam Schwarz (@AdamJSchwarz) March 1, 2025
This shows the clear intention of London to work as a mediator between Europe and the US.
Zelensky is expected to meet King Charles at Sandringham later on Sunday, while Starmer will convene a defence summit in central London with leaders from Europe, Canada and Turkey later today.
At the same time, British Chancellor Rachel Reeves finalized a £2.3 billion ($2.9 billion) loan agreement enabling Ukraine to purchase additional weaponry, with repayments drawn from profits generated by sanctioned Russian sovereign assets.
Reeves also announced plans to expand the scope of the £27.8 billion ($35 billion) national wealth fund of the UK, allowing it to be allocated towards defence spending in addition to infrastructure projects.
While several European leaders openly criticised Trump’s conduct during Friday’s events, Starmer took a measured approach. On Sunday, he remarked: “It was an uncomfortable moment—nobody wants to witness that. But what matters is how we respond.”
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