Keir Starmer and European leaders have outlined six key commitments to assist Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The commitments involve providing significant support to Kyiv for strengthening its armed forces, aiming to maintain a peacetime level of 800,000 troops. Starmer’s visit to Berlin for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European partners coincided with this announcement.
Prime Minister Starmer previously cautioned against a flawed peace deal for Kyiv, emphasizing the potential for escalating conflict, especially under pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Stressing the importance of unwavering support for Ukraine, Starmer underscored the need for vigilance against ongoing threats from Russia. He highlighted historical instances where peace agreements in Europe failed, leading to more severe conflicts.
A joint statement from the UK Prime Minister and nearly a dozen allies, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, commended the progress towards securing peace in the conflict. The leaders pledged to collaborate on providing robust security guarantees and economic recovery support for Ukraine, with a focus on sustaining and enhancing the country’s armed forces to deter aggression and safeguard its territory.
Furthermore, the leaders reiterated their commitment to establish a “Coalition of the Willing” with U.S. support to ensure Ukraine’s airspace and waters are secure. While endorsing Ukraine’s path towards potential European Union membership, the statement did not address NATO accession.
The statement emphasized backing for President Zelenskyy and his decisions on Ukrainian matters, with a clear stance against altering international borders by force. It acknowledged that certain issues would require resolution in the final negotiation stages, advocating for Zelenskyy to consult the Ukrainian people as necessary.