UK and France Collaborate on Ukraine Peace Initiative Amidst Tensions with the US
Prime Minister Starmer emphasizes the importance of a unified European approach to peace as Zelensky attends a summit following a contentious meeting with Trump.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom and France will collaborate with Ukraine to devise a peace plan to end the ongoing conflict with Russia.
This initiative was disclosed during an appearance on the BBC's 'Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg', where Starmer highlighted the importance of discussing the plan with the United States following its formulation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in attendance at a summit with European leaders just two days after an intense exchange with US President Donald Trump at the White House.
Starmer expressed concern about the public disagreement between the two leaders, stating that it was uncomfortable to watch and underscoring the necessity of steering focus back to peace efforts.
In an effort to mitigate tensions, Starmer reached out to both Trump and Zelensky the same evening, aiming to foster dialogue among major global leaders.
He noted that it is critical to pursue constructive paths rather than escalate rhetoric surrounding the conflict, which has persisted for over three years.
The Prime Minister also addressed calls from the Scottish National Party’s John Swinney to rescind Trump’s invitation for a second state visit to the UK, insisting that the primary objective is peace in Europe.
Support from various political factions was reflected in the remarks of Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who suggested that the upcoming state visit should be leveraged to obtain assurances from the US regarding its continued support for Ukraine.
He stated that all available diplomatic channels should be used effectively for the benefit of Ukraine.
Starmer further elaborated on the need for European nations, including the UK and France, to take greater responsibility in their defense strategies.
He emphasized the need for a 'coalition of the willing' among European countries to formulate a robust security guarantee for Ukraine, asserting that a review of defense budgets across Europe is imperative.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch endorsed Starmer's efforts and highlighted the necessity to keep US engagement active, underscoring that the risk of escalation in the conflict could ultimately draw the US deeper into the situation.
Badenoch reiterated her standpoint that the UK's defense expenditure should be increased to 3% of national income by the end of the current parliamentary term.
In his recent budget discussions, Starmer announced plans to incrementally raise defense funding from 2.3% to 2.5% of national income by the year 2027, subsequent to which Anneliese Dodds, the International Development Minister, resigned.
Trump has previously urged NATO allies to increase defense spending to 5% of their respective GDPs.
As part of this ongoing discourse around defense, France, which currently allocates 2.1% of its GDP to defense, has committed to doubling its military budget by 2030. Sir Keir also called for a re-evaluation of capabilities among European nations, stressing that coordination has been lacking in the current response to the Ukraine conflict.
Prior to the summit, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Downing Street, where she expressed commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of maintaining unity within the West.
The upcoming discussions underscore the challenges faced in reinforcing international cooperation and peacebuilding efforts in the context of geopolitical tensions surrounding the conflict in Ukraine.
This initiative was disclosed during an appearance on the BBC's 'Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg', where Starmer highlighted the importance of discussing the plan with the United States following its formulation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in attendance at a summit with European leaders just two days after an intense exchange with US President Donald Trump at the White House.
Starmer expressed concern about the public disagreement between the two leaders, stating that it was uncomfortable to watch and underscoring the necessity of steering focus back to peace efforts.
In an effort to mitigate tensions, Starmer reached out to both Trump and Zelensky the same evening, aiming to foster dialogue among major global leaders.
He noted that it is critical to pursue constructive paths rather than escalate rhetoric surrounding the conflict, which has persisted for over three years.
The Prime Minister also addressed calls from the Scottish National Party’s John Swinney to rescind Trump’s invitation for a second state visit to the UK, insisting that the primary objective is peace in Europe.
Support from various political factions was reflected in the remarks of Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who suggested that the upcoming state visit should be leveraged to obtain assurances from the US regarding its continued support for Ukraine.
He stated that all available diplomatic channels should be used effectively for the benefit of Ukraine.
Starmer further elaborated on the need for European nations, including the UK and France, to take greater responsibility in their defense strategies.
He emphasized the need for a 'coalition of the willing' among European countries to formulate a robust security guarantee for Ukraine, asserting that a review of defense budgets across Europe is imperative.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch endorsed Starmer's efforts and highlighted the necessity to keep US engagement active, underscoring that the risk of escalation in the conflict could ultimately draw the US deeper into the situation.
Badenoch reiterated her standpoint that the UK's defense expenditure should be increased to 3% of national income by the end of the current parliamentary term.
In his recent budget discussions, Starmer announced plans to incrementally raise defense funding from 2.3% to 2.5% of national income by the year 2027, subsequent to which Anneliese Dodds, the International Development Minister, resigned.
Trump has previously urged NATO allies to increase defense spending to 5% of their respective GDPs.
As part of this ongoing discourse around defense, France, which currently allocates 2.1% of its GDP to defense, has committed to doubling its military budget by 2030. Sir Keir also called for a re-evaluation of capabilities among European nations, stressing that coordination has been lacking in the current response to the Ukraine conflict.
Prior to the summit, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Downing Street, where she expressed commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of maintaining unity within the West.
The upcoming discussions underscore the challenges faced in reinforcing international cooperation and peacebuilding efforts in the context of geopolitical tensions surrounding the conflict in Ukraine.
