UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a four-point plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine and strengthening the country’s defense against Russia.
Addressing a summit of 18 leaders—primarily from Europe—alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Starmer announced the formation of a "coalition of the willing," with the UK, France, and other nations intensifying their support. He emphasized the need to engage the United States in these efforts, stating, “We stand at a crossroads in history.”
The summit followed a tense exchange between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at the White House. Speaking after the meeting, the Ukrainian leader expressed appreciation for Europe’s "strong support" and its unprecedented unity.
As part of the plan, Starmer pledged to maintain military aid to Ukraine while increasing economic pressure on Russia. He stressed that any future peace deal must safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, with Kyiv playing an active role in negotiations. Additionally, he underscored the importance of enhancing Ukraine’s defensive capabilities to prevent future invasions. To ensure long-term stability, he called for the formation of a coalition committed to upholding and enforcing any peace agreement.
To bolster Ukraine’s air defenses, the UK announced an additional £1.6 billion ($2 billion) in export finance for over 5,000 missiles, complementing a £2.2 billion loan funded by profits from frozen Russian assets. "We must not repeat past mistakes with a weak deal that Russia can easily violate," Starmer warned. He confirmed that committed nations would accelerate military planning, though he did not disclose which countries had joined the coalition.
"Europe must take the lead," he added, while acknowledging that US backing would be essential and stressing that Russia could not dictate terms.
Meanwhile, Zelensky, who later met King Charles III at Sandringham, signaled readiness to sign a minerals deal with the US, despite earlier tensions with Trump.
As global diplomacy intensifies, uncertainty remains over Washington’s stance, with Trump expressing skepticism about Ukraine’s war efforts and initiating separate talks with Russia—excluding Kyiv from the discussions.
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