European leaders convened at the European Summit on Ukraine on Sunday, March 2, 2025, held in London, as part of their commitment to bolster Ukraine amid its challenging conflict with Russia.
The summit brought together representatives from 18 nations and organizations, including leaders from Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Finland, France, the Czech Republic, Sweden, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged fellow leaders to ramp up their defense efforts, emphasizing the need not only to support Ukraine but also to maintain stability across Europe. "Achieving good outcomes for Ukraine is critically important for every state represented here and many others," Starmer stated during the press conference after the summit.
During the two-hour meeting, Starmer announced the UK’s commitment to provide Ukraine with access to £1.6 billion, earmarked for the acquisition of over 5,000 air defense missiles, which will be produced in Belfast. This initiative aims to strengthen Ukraine's military capabilities, allowing it to negotiate from a position of strength.
Starmer highlighted four important agreements reached among European leaders at the summit. Firstly, military assistance will continue to flow to Ukraine as long as the conflict persists. Secondly, any lasting peace must guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, with Ukraine present at any peace talks. The third point emphasized the need for European leaders to work together to deter any future Russian aggression, and the fourth called for the creation of a “coalition of the willing” dedicated to protecting Ukraine and ensuring peace.
According to Starmer, leaders plan to meet again soon to maintain the momentum of these discussions and refine their peace proposals for Ukraine to present to the United States.
Reuters noted the convening was arranged as a demonstration of support for Zelensky, who had recently returned from Washington, D.C., where he had faced criticism from U.S. officials. The visit to the White House ended abruptly after Zelensky had a terse exchange with President Donald Trump, where Trump accused him of disrespecting the United States. Zelensky left the White House without securing any agreements, prompting the urgent need for support from European allies.
At the summit, Zelensky received warm encouragement from attending leaders, solidifying their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and stability. Starmer underscored the urgent security challenge Europe is currently facing, calling it "a generational event" and asserting the collaborative necessity among nations to confront this challenge collectively.
European Commission President von der Leyen described the summit discussions as constructive and candid, addressing the need for comprehensive security guarantees for Ukraine, inclusive of financial resources to bolster self-defense capabilities. She mentioned the importance of creating effective strategies for economic survival alongside military backing.
"Europe requires a clear plan and uniform approach to defense enhancement; it's urgent to ramp up spending and prepare for the worst," von der Leyen cautioned, underscoring the pivotal role of internal cohesion among EU member states.
The gathering concluded with significant commitments, including Zelensky and Starmer signing agreements valued at nearly €3 billion to support Ukraine’s defenses. Following the tense discussions with Trump, Starmer expressed his intent to mend relations between the United States and Ukraine, advocating for collaborative peace efforts.
The summit concluded with palpable optimism among leaders about the potential for strengthening Ukraine's military capacity and enhancing international support efforts aimed at fostering peace and security.