Foreign Secretary David Lammy is convening European foreign ministers in London yestertoday (12 May 2025) for high-level talks aimed at countering Russian aggression and reinforcing

European security.

The meeting of the Weimar+ group – including representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and the EU – takes place at Lancaster House and marks the first time the UK has hosted the group. It follows a joint visit by leaders from the UK, France, Germany, and Poland to Kyiv, where they joined the US in urging Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire to enable meaningful peace talks.

As part of continued diplomatic efforts ahead of the upcoming UK-EU Summit on 19 May, the London gathering underscores the UK’s commitment to collective European action in support of Ukraine and regional security. The Weimar+ meeting is the sixth of its kind, and a significant moment in advancing unity among major European powers.

Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said: 

“We are facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent. The challenge we face today is not only about the future of Ukraine – it is existential for Europe as a whole.    

I have brought our friends and partners to London to make clear that we must stand together, allied in our protection of sovereignty, of peace and of Ukraine.    

A strong and secure Britain is a foundation of our Plan for Change. This cannot be achieved without standing up to Putin and strengthening our shared European security”.

He added that a strong and secure Britain is key to the UK’s broader Plan for Change, which cannot be achieved without confronting Putin’s aggression and deepening cooperation with European allies.

The meeting builds on a growing pattern of UK-European collaboration on security and defense. Just days earlier, the Foreign Secretary joined European counterparts in Lviv to support the creation of a Special Tribunal to hold Russia accountable for the crime of aggression. He also attended the Gymnich meeting in Poland, calling for a bold new security relationship between the UK and the EU—one that boosts economic resilience, safeguards citizens, and strengthens continental defense.

Today’s Weimar+ talks represent a continued push toward these goals, with European leaders reaffirming their joint commitment to securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. Photo by Policy Exchange, Wikimedia commons.