UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for a “coalition of the willing” to provide Ukraine with security guarantees in the event of a US-brokered ceasefire, as he prepares to urge European leaders in London to increase defence spending rapidly.
Push for Stronger European Commitment
Starmer suggested that this coalition would likely include the UK, France, and “one or two others,” who would work with Ukraine to develop a plan to end the fighting.
His comments follow a week of intense diplomacy, overshadowed by a tense Oval Office exchange between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding a potential ceasefire with Russia—which lacked firm US security guarantees.
“We need European countries willing to take a more proactive stance,Rather than moving at the pace of every single European country which would be quite slow we need a coalition that can act decisively.”
Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have been in urgent discussions following the White House dispute, which raised fears that the US could suddenly cut its support for Ukraine after more than three years of war.
After hosting Zelenskyy in Downing Street, Starmer spoke with both Macron and Trump, calling these conversations “a step in the right direction.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, during her visit to London, stressed the need for Western unity:
“It is very, very important that we avoid the risk that the West divides,” Meloni warned Starmer.
Tensions Over US-Ukraine Relations
A European official revealed that the Trump administration privately expects a public apology from Zelenskyy to repair strained relations following the Oval Office dispute.
Meanwhile, European leaders are increasingly concerned about Trump’s direct engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. With Russia still occupying about 20% of Ukraine, Trump has pressed European nations to take the lead in Ukraine’s defence, prompting many governments to boost military spending.