British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on March 2, 2025, significant advancements for Ukraine during a press conference after hosting European leaders at Lancaster House in London. Following his discussions, Starmer revealed plans for the U.K. to support Ukraine through a substantial financial aid package and military assistance.
During the summit, Starmer highlighted the formation of a "coalition of the willing" among European nations, including the U.K. and France. This coalition aims to prepare for effective peace negotiations by enhancing military support to Ukraine. Starmer stressed the necessity for the coalition members to be ready to provide "planes in the air and boots on the ground" to assist Ukraine's defense and facilitate peace efforts.
Starmer emphasized the importance of strong backing from the United States, noting, "(European allies) will go forth to develop a 'coalition of the willing' to defend a deal in Ukraine and to guarantee the peace." He remarked, "The U.K is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes on the air. Together with others, Europe must do the heavy lifting. This is not a moment for more talk... If you want to preserve the peace, you have to defend the peace."
The summit assumed additional importance following tensions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump. During the meeting, Starmer communicated with both leaders, aiming to mend the rift. He remarked, "We have to learn from the mistakes of the past. We cannot accept a deal like Minsk which Russia can break with ease."
Starmer introduced plans for a significant loan of 2.2 billion British pounds (approximately $2.8 billion) to Ukraine. This financial aid is financed through frozen Russian assets. He also noted the establishment of a new export finance agreement, which would allow Ukraine to access 1.6 billion pounds ($2 billion) to acquire military equipment, including air defense missiles
The aim of these initiatives is to empower Ukraine to negotiate from a position of strength as they work toward achieving peace. Starmer asserted, "Every nation must contribute to [supporting Ukraine] in the best way it can." He emphasized the necessity of basing any future peace deals on firm security guarantees, particularly from the U.S. Starmer countered any accusations of the U.S. being. "unreliable allies" and stated, "The discussions we’ve had today, particularly the coalition of the willing, is on the basis of working with the U.S. and ensuring it has backing."
The need for solidarity among the allies was echoed by leaders from various nations who attended the summit. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended Ukrainian President Zelensky, affirming the necessity of support from the West. Trudeau remarked, "It’s important at every chance we get to lay out the facts as clearly as possible." He underlined the reckless actions of Russia, referring to their demonstrated capacity to breach agreements.
Leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also weighed in, noting the importance of avoiding divisions among Western countries. After bilateral talks, Meloni praised Zelensky for his rational discourse on the Ukrainian crisis. Discussions at the summit also included the idea of deploying peacekeeping forces and strategies to secure lasting peace.
Starmer concluded the summit emphasizing the urgency of building support and resources for Ukraine. He asserted, "The purpose of today’s meeting was to unite our partners around this effort. To strengthen Ukraine, and to secure lasting peace for all of us." He reiterated how battling Russia's aggression was imperative not just for Ukraine’s future, but for the security of all European nations.
The British Prime Minister also acknowledged the importance of involving Russia as part of negotiations but stressed historical breaches must not dictate the security guarantees offered to Ukraine. "Any final deal will have to involve Russia, but it shouldn't dictate the guarantees we can offer to Ukraine," Starmer clarified.
Conversations at the summit set the stage for enhanced military support and collaborative peace efforts among Europe and North America, potentially stabilizing the tensions stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has persisted since 2022. The coalition aiming to support Ukraine both militarily and diplomatically aims to outweigh the threat posed by Russia and prepare grounds for future negotiations.
Starmer stated, "Getting a good outcome for Ukraine is not just a matter of right and wrong. It’s also about the security of every nation here." This sentiment encapsulates the overarching commitment of European leaders to establish peace and uphold stability throughout the continent.