Coalition for Ukraine: ‘We have to urgently rearm Europe’
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (1st row-C), French President Emmanuel Macron (1st row- 2nd L), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (1st row- 2nd R), and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (4th row-R) attend the Ukraine-focused leaders' summit, organized by the UK Foreign Ministry, at the historic Lancaster House estate in London, United Kingdom on March 02, 2025. (AA Photo)
European leaders united in support of Ukraine at a London summit on Sunday, vowing to increase security spending and form a coalition to safeguard any potential truce in the ongoing conflict.
The summit, attended by 18 allies, focused on how to provide security guarantees for Ukraine and strengthen Europe’s future defense strategies, all while maintaining cooperation with the United States under U.S. President Donald Trump. Just days after a public dispute between Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raised doubts over U.S. commitment to Ukraine and NATO, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned Europe stood “at a crossroads in history.”
Coalition for Ukraine
“This is not a moment for more talk — it’s time to act. It’s time to step up and lead and unite around a new plan for a just and enduring peace,” Starmer stated, stressing that Europe must take the lead in securing peace in Ukraine with no guarantee of U.S. involvement. He indicated several European nations were ready to defend any peace agreement reached.
Meanwhile, Starmer confirmed plans to create a “coalition of the willing” to enforce any peace deal in Ukraine, with the UK set to take a leading role in this international effort.
“We will go further, developing a coalition of the willing to defend a deal in Ukraine and guarantee peace,” he said.
“A number of countries have indicated they are willing to join the coalition, but it’s up to them to announce that,” Starmer added.
Zelenskyy received a warm reception at the summit from leaders such as Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and NATO chief Mark Rutte, while protesters gathered outside UK Prime Minister Starmer’s residence in solidarity with Ukraine.
This reception stood in stark contrast to Zelenskyy’s treatment at the White House on Friday, where he faced criticism from Trump for not expressing sufficient gratitude for U.S. aid and not being “ready” for peace with Russia.
FM Fidan highlights Türkiye’s role in peace efforts
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who also attended the summit, underscored the importance of Türkiye’s contributions to securing peace in Ukraine.
“Today’s summit was an important one, attended by 17 countries, the European Union, and Canada. All NATO and EU countries were represented, except the United States,” Fidan noted after the summit.
He emphasized the varying perspectives within the European Union, given the recent stance taken by the U.S., and highlighted these discussions during the talks. Fidan also stressed Türkiye’s crucial role in both achieving a potential peace agreement in Ukraine and contributing to the reconstruction of European security architecture.
He added that further meetings were anticipated, with plans to hold them more frequently, perhaps every two to three weeks.
‘We have to urgently rearm Europe’
Following the summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged for an urgent rearmament of Europe, warning the continent must “prepare for the worst.”
“We have to urgently rearm Europe,” she said, highlighting the urgent necessity of securing “comprehensive security guarantees” for Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for a unified approach from the U.S. and Europe, stressing the need to demonstrate to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the West would not bow to his aggression and blackmail.
Prime Ministers Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron both expressed their readiness to deploy British and French troops to Ukraine to help maintain peace if a peace agreement is reached. Rutte pointed to increasing promises from more European nations to “ramp up defense spending” while reaffirming the U.S.’s commitment to the transatlantic alliance.
The summit brought together leaders from France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, as well as Türkiye, NATO, and the European Union. Zelenskyy also met with King Charles III at Sandringham estate in England following the summit.
