Britain is hosting a high-stakes summit in London on Sunday to reaffirm European support for Ukraine and strengthen the continent’s defenses. 

The meeting comes after a tense Oval Office exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump on Friday, which seemed to smash hopes for America’s future role as a steadfast Ukrainian ally.

The summit brings together leaders from France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Czechia, and Romania, as well as NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and top EU officials.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is hosting the event, greeted Zelensky upon his arrival in London on Saturday, reaffirming his determination to help end Russia’s war on Ukraine.

A Ceasefire Plan in the Works

Just ahead of the summit, Starmer announced that the UK, France, and Ukraine have agreed to develop a ceasefire plan to present to the United States. The plan emerged from discussions among the three nations following Zelensky’s dramatic exchange with Trump at the White House.

Speaking to the BBC, Starmer emphasized the need for American involvement to ensure lasting peace. “I’ve always been clear that that is going to need a U.S. backstop, because I don’t think it would be a guarantee without it,” he said.

He outlined three key elements required for a durable settlement:

  • A strong Ukraine, capable of defending itself and negotiating from a position of strength
  • A European security framework with clear guarantees
  • U.S. support to uphold stability

“The UK and France are the most advanced on the thinking of this and that is why President Macron and I are working on this plan, which we will then discuss with the U.S.” stated Starmer.

European Leaders Sound the Alarm

The London summit comes amid growing concerns that Russia’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking ahead of the meeting, warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military aggression poses an existential threat to Europe.

“We have an over-armed and aggressive Russia on our borders. It is carrying out terrorist actions and massive disinformation campaigns here and in Europe,” Macron told La Tribune Dimanche. If Putin is not stopped, he cautioned, “he will certainly move on to Moldova and perhaps beyond to Romania.”

Macron also stressed the importance of keeping the U.S. engaged in Ukraine’s defense, adding, “The clear destiny of the Americans is to be on the side of the Ukrainians, I have no doubt about that. I want the Americans to understand that disengagement from Ukraine is not in their interests.”