UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – European leaders unite behind Ukraine, urging support for the country ahead of US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
As reported by The Independent, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and other European leaders said Ukraine’s current front line should form the basis of peace talks.
What did European leaders say about the Ukraine peace talks?
European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, stated,
“We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.”
They said,
“We strongly support President Trump’s position that the fighting should stop immediately, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.”
The statement follows reports that President Donald Trump rejected maps of Ukraine’s front line and urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to cede eastern Donbas to Vladimir Putin during last week’s White House negotiations.
European leaders warned that Mr Putin shows no commitment to the peace process, adding,
“Russia’s stalling tactics have shown time and time again that Ukraine is the only party serious about peace. We can all see that Putin continues to choose violence and destruction.”
They said Ukraine must be placed in the strongest possible position before, during, and after any ceasefire talks, while confirming plans to use the full value of Russia’s frozen sovereign assets to aid Ukraine, rather than just the profits.
What did John Healey say about UK troops in Ukraine?
UK Defence Secretary John Healey said European forces could be deployed to Ukraine within weeks if Vladimir Putin agrees to a ceasefire.
He stated that Ukrainians must be the ones to decide the terms and direction of any peace negotiations.
Mr Healey said,
“Peace is possible, and if President Trump can broker a peace, then we will be ready to help secure that peace for the long term. That requires us to invest and prepare our forces to be ready to deploy.”
He added,
“Keir Starmer has said, if necessary, he’s willing to see UK boots on the ground in Ukraine, and I’ve accelerated already millions of pounds in that preparation for any possible deployment in the event of peace. And I would expect the cost of that to be well over £100m.”
Mr Healey warned that sending British forces to Ukraine could cost over £100 million. The cost would cover an initial deployment of troops and aircraft, separate from the £4.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine.
What did Donald Trump say about Ukraine winning the war?
Donald Trump called the Moscow-Kyiv conflict the final war he hopes to address, while downplaying earlier remarks suggesting he supported a Ukrainian victory.
He said,
“It’s Russia and Ukraine, and I think we’ll get there, but it’s turned out to be nasty because you have two leaders that truly hate each other. They hate each other beyond all else, and it makes it actually a little bit difficult.”
In response to a question about whether Ukraine wins the war, President Trump said,
“I don’t think they will, but they could still win it, I never said they would win it. I said they could win, anything can happen. War is a very strange thing, a lot of bad things happen.”
The president has refused to supply Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, while sources say relations with Kyiv have worsened after his latest call with Putin.
What did Yvette Cooper say about Russia’s war on Ukraine?
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said,
“Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war of aggression is not just a test of Ukrainian resilience and security, it is an assault on the United Nations Charter and its most foundational principles: respect for sovereignty and for territorial integrity, principles on which we all depend every day and feel acutely whenever they are threatened.”
She added,
“The UK will continue to stand with Ukraine, providing the support it needs to defend itself now and to rebuild in the future. Rebuilding as a strong, prosperous nation, free to make its own choices.”
How did Donald Trump propose ending the Russia-Ukraine war?
President Trump has proposed freezing the war along current battle lines, leaving Russia in control of significant Ukrainian territory.
