Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced his intention to collaborate with European leaders to outline the terms for a potential peace agreement, which will subsequently be presented to the United States. This declaration came after a significant meeting of 18 allied nations in London, where commitments were made to enhance security expenditures and form a coalition to guard any future truce in Ukraine.
The recent talks occur at a precarious juncture for Ukraine, which has been enduring the adverse effects of Russia’s ongoing invasion for three years while grappling with uncertain levels of support from the US. Tensions escalated earlier in the week when US President Donald Trump publicly criticized Zelensky during a White House event, fueling concerns that the US may push Ukraine into a peace deal that favors Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, European allies have publicly reaffirmed their support for Ukraine. Following the summit, Zelensky conveyed the resolve of European nations to pursue a peaceful resolution. “We need peace, not endless war,” he stated in a message on Telegram. He emphasized the necessity for European leaders to establish a unified stance, outlining both achievable goals and non-negotiable demands to be communicated to their US counterparts.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, stating that the UK, alongside France and other associated nations, would collaborate with Ukraine to devise a strategy aimed at de-escalating the conflict, which would then be presented to Washington. French President Emmanuel Macron, returning from the summit, proposed in an interview that France and the UK would recommend implementing a temporary truce for one month, aimed at halting fighting in air, sea, and energy infrastructure sectors, though he acknowledged that ground combat would initially be excluded from such an arrangement.
Both Starmer and Macron expressed willingness to deploy British and French forces to Ukraine should a truce be established, underscoring the notion that with US involvement uncertain, Europe may need to take a leading role in ensuring any agreement is upheld.
While a truce may seem feasible, Macron cautioned that the extensive length of the front line in Ukraine would complicate enforcement. He indicated that peacekeeping forces could be introduced in the future but not in the immediate weeks ahead. Moreover, Macron advocated for European nations to escalate their defense spending to between 3.0% and 3.5% of GDP in response to the shifting prioritization from the US and Russia’s military buildup.
Trump, having been recently reelected, has adopted a role that appears to sideline Ukraine and European allies as he seeks to foster better relations with Russia. This shift was accentuated during his meeting with Zelensky, during which Trump suggested that Ukraine is ungrateful for US support and implied that Zelensky is not sufficiently prepared for peace discussions with Russia.
Starmer, who met with Trump shortly before the London summit, countered the narrative that the US is an unreliable ally, asserting that any potential peace deal would require substantial backing from the US to be considered viable. In the wake of the leaders’ discussions, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a stark warning that Europe must urgently bolster its military capabilities in anticipation of worsening conditions, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for a united front against Putin’s tactics of aggression.
Amidst the political climate, Trump downplayed concerns regarding his relationship with Russia, suggesting that the US should prioritize domestic issues over foreign ones, while members of his party have begun to advocate for Zelensky’s replacement in pursuit of a peace resolution. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz articulated that the US requires a leader who can negotiate effectively with Russia, indicating that Zelensky’s position may be questioned if peace is to be achieved.
Zelensky, for his part, has conveyed a willingness to resign in exchange for Ukraine’s NATO membership, a proposition that Trump has dismissed. He further emphasized the importance of maintaining strong ties with Washington and expressed openness to negotiations over critical mineral agreements favored by the US administration. “I am ready to engage in any kind of constructive format in relations with the US,” he affirmed.
