By Enyichukwu Enemanna
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday said his country, along with France, is working with Ukraine on plans to end the fighting with Russia, as European leaders converge for crisis talks following an impasse between Kyiv and Washington.
Speaking ahead of a summit in London with more than a dozen European leaders seeking a way forward in the three-year-old conflict, Starmer urged world leaders to “work together”, saying “nobody wants to see” scenes like the clash between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US counterpart Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Friday.
“We have to find a way that we can all work together. Because, in the end, we’ve had three years of bloody conflict. Now we need to get to that lasting peace,” Starmer told the BBC.
“The United Kingdom, along with France and possibly one or two others, will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting, and then we’ll discuss that plan with the United States.”
Ukraine’s allies have been underscoring their steadfast commitment to counter growing concerns that Trump is about to sell Kyiv short in negotiations with Russia.
Starmer warmly welcomed Zelensky to the British capital on Saturday, the day after the Ukrainian leader was expelled from the White House, extending a loan to strengthen Ukraine’s depleted defences.
The London meeting brings together leaders from across continental Europe, including France, Germany, Denmark and Italy, as well as representatives from Turkey, NATO and the European Union.
As Zelensky’s convoy swept into London on Saturday, a crowd of supporters cheered.
“You’re very, very welcome here in Downing Street,” Starmer told Zelensky before their 75-minute closed-door talks.
Zelensky effusively thanked Britain and its people “for their tremendous support from the very beginning of this war”.
The pair discussed Ukraine’s position and how to end the war “with a lasting and just peace that will not allow Russia to use the ceasefire to rearm and attack again”, according to a statement released by Zelensky’s office.
They also unveiled a £2.26 billion ($2.84 billion) loan agreement to support Ukraine’s defence capabilities, to be repaid using the profits of immobilised sovereign Russian assets.
