British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will convene a high-profile meeting on Sunday with leaders from Italy, Germany, Poland, and other key allies—potentially including Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskiy—to discuss their collective response to Donald Trump's calls for a peace agreement in Ukraine.
Trump’s stance has prompted a major reassessment of European security strategy, catching leaders off guard with demands for increased defense spending and greater self-reliance in safeguarding the continent.
The meeting follows Starmer’s critical discussions with Trump in Washington on Thursday, where the UK leader aims to reinforce Britain’s close relationship with the U.S. by reaffirming his commitment to boosting defense expenditure.
Earlier in the week, French President Emmanuel Macron also met with Trump as part of broader European efforts to dissuade him from hastily negotiating a ceasefire with Russian President Vladimir Putin. European leaders are pushing for any potential deal to involve both Ukraine and Western allies while ensuring military guarantees for Kyiv.
"I acknowledge that European allies, including the UK, need to do more—whether in terms of capability, coordination, or defense spending," Starmer told reporters en route to Washington.
He emphasized the importance of strategic collaboration, citing key lessons from Ukraine: "Coordination is crucial. We've seen from Ukraine how essential it is to align our military capabilities and support efforts more effectively." Photo by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street, Wikimedia commons.