Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has revealed that the UK and France are collaborating with Ukraine to craft a peace plan aimed at halting the conflict with Russia, which they intend to present to U.S. President Donald Trump. The announcement comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a European leaders’ summit in London, just days after a heated confrontation with Trump at the White House.
Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Starmer described his current mission as bridging the divide between Trump and Zelensky following their public spat. “Nobody wants to see that,” he said of the incident, admitting it left him “uncomfortable.” He acted swiftly, contacting both leaders and French President Emmanuel Macron that same evening to refocus efforts on ending the three-year war.
“There are two paths here,” Starmer explained. “One is to escalate the outrage and rhetoric. The other is to roll up my sleeves and work with them to find a way forward together—for lasting peace in Europe.”
Starmer emphasized that the UK and France are taking the lead in formulating this plan, which could involve a “coalition of the willing” among European nations. While dismissing calls from SNP First Minister John Swinney to scrap Trump’s planned UK state visit, he stressed the urgency of securing peace. “I’m not going to be sidetracked by rhetoric when the stakes are this high,” he said.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey supported the state visit but urged it be leveraged to extract U.S. security commitments for Ukraine. “We should play every card we have,” Davey said, suggesting a warm welcome for Trump contingent on American support alongside the UK and Europe.
Starmer avoided directly criticizing Trump, affirming his belief that the U.S. president seeks a “lasting peace.” When pressed, he answered “yes” to whether Trump could be trusted, while adding that Zelensky is also reliable—unlike Russian President Vladimir Putin. He underscored the necessity of a U.S. security guarantee, arguing it’s critical to any durable peace deal given Putin’s untrustworthiness.
However, Starmer acknowledged that Europe must step up. “Europeans have stood tall these past three years, but we need to do more for our own defense and security,” he said, calling for better coordination and increased capability across the continent.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch echoed Starmer’s stance on Ukraine, warning that U.S. disengagement could drag America into a broader conflict later. “It’s in their interest to stay involved now,” she told the BBC, advocating for UK defense spending to rise to 3% of national income by the end of the current Parliament.
This follows Starmer’s recent decision to trim foreign aid to boost defense funding from 2.3% to 2.5% of national income by 2027—a move that prompted the resignation of International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds. Trump has pushed NATO allies to hit 5%, while France, currently at 2.1%, aims to double that by 2030.
The London summit, attended by leaders including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, builds on these efforts. Welcoming Meloni to Downing Street, Starmer noted their shared approach. Meloni told reporters: “We all want a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The UK and Italy can play a key role in preventing division in the West.”
Starmer clarified the “coalition of the willing” concept: “We need countries ready to lean forward on a European security guarantee for Ukraine. The UK and France are at the forefront, but the more who join, the better.”
As the war-weary region looks for solutions, Starmer’s plan hinges on aligning European resolve with U.S. backing—a delicate balance amid transatlantic tensions.