The London summit on Ukraine begun at Lancaster House from 4 pm with the participation of 15 leaders and hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

“I hope you know that all of us here are with you and with the Ukrainian people for as long as it takes,” Starmer told Volodymyr Zelensky, who was present at the summit.

As the British Prime Minister noted, this is a once-in-a-generation moment, calling on European leaders to step up their game.

Arrivals

Emmanuel Macron arrived first at Lancaster House, followed by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. They were followed by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the Swedish and Czech Prime Ministers Ulf Kristersson and Petr Fiala.

Shortly before 3:30, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived at the venue, followed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

The arrivals continued with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schöff and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

The last to arrive at the summit were European Council President Antonio Costa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The French president and the other participants were welcomed by the summit host, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

For his part, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in a post shortly before the start of the summit, highlighted three points on which the talks should focus:

The three conditions for sustainable peace in Ukraine

The three conditions that must be met, in his opinion, in order to achieve “sustainable peace” in Ukraine were revealed in an interview today by Keir Starmer.

Speaking to the BBC a few hours before the crucial summit in London on security and Ukraine, the British Prime Minister estimated that the following three elements are required: First, a Ukraine “in a strong position to negotiate”, then “a European element that will concern security guarantees” as well as “American cover”.

It is recalled that Starmer announced today, in the same interview, that London and Paris will work together “on a plan to end the fighting” between Ukraine and Russia. After talks with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron, the British prime minister said, “We have agreed that Britain, together with France and perhaps one or two other countries, will work with Ukraine on a plan to end the fighting. We will then discuss that plan with the US,” he said.

Starmer insisted in his interview on the importance of security guarantees to avoid “the risk” of Russia attacking Ukraine again if President Vladimir Putin “gets the chance.” “I think we need to rule out that possibility and that’s why I attach such great importance to guarantees. How do we defend the line (of separation between Ukraine and Russia) if such a line is drawn” in any future peace deal, he added.

The British prime minister has long said that a European peacekeeping force to be deployed in Ukraine to enforce any peace deal between Kiev and Moscow would need security guarantees from the US.

“I have always been clear that we will need American cover because I don’t think there will be any guarantees (for peace) without it,” he told the BBC. Starmer is hosting about 15 leaders of Kiev’s allies in London today for a summit to discuss security and Ukraine, as well as the guarantees Europe could offer Kiev to end the fighting.

“I felt uncomfortable watching the scene in the Oval Office”

Starmer referred to his interview at the explosive White House meeting on Friday, admitting that he felt uncomfortable watching the confrontation. “Nobody wants to see” such a scene, but “the important thing is (…) how we react… The first way is to toughen the rhetoric (…) the other is to do what I did: that is, I rolled up my sleeves, I picked up my phone” to contact Zelensky and Trump.

The British prime minister said he was convinced that Trump wanted a lasting peace in Ukraine, despite his clash with Zelensky on Friday, during which he asked the Ukrainian president to leave after accusing him of being ungrateful to the United States for the help it has provided to his country.

“I have to say: I have spoken to President Trump several times. I have met him twice (…) It is clear to my mind that he does want a lasting peace. He does want the fighting in Ukraine to stop,” Starmer said.

After intensive talks with the two leaders and other European partners, Starmer said it was “a step in the right direction.” “It is very important that we maintain our central objective, which is a sustainable peace in Ukraine,” he stressed.