The stakes couldn’t be higher: as the war in Ukraine rages on, European leaders are rallying in Paris for an emergency summit that could shape the future of the continent. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is among those making a critical decision: how best to counter the looming threat posed by Russia, especially after the US raised concerns over sidelining Europe in peace talks.
With tensions escalating, France is stepping in to host the summit on Monday. Leaders from the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark will be present, alongside the key figures of the European Council, European Commission, and NATO. The urgency of the gathering is clear – Russia’s actions, and the West’s response, are now at a pivotal moment.
This summit follows a surprising statement by Donald Trump’s special envoy, who suggested that European nations might be left out of negotiations for peace. This development has only heightened anxiety across the continent, particularly with the spectre of appeasing Putin hanging over any potential deal.
Meanwhile, discussions between US officials and Russian counterparts are set to take place in Saudi Arabia, where a face-to-face between Trump and Putin may be on the horizon. But one thing remains certain: Ukrainian officials won’t be at the table just yet. On Sunday, Trump did attempt to reassure the world, emphasising that Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, would be included in future talks.
Zelenskyy has already made his stance clear, saying that Ukraine will not accept deals made without its involvement, and it’s a sentiment shared by many. Just hours after Trump’s comments, Zelenskyy arrived in the UAE, with reports suggesting it could be the site of eventual peace talks.
Against this backdrop, Sir Keir Starmer has pledged that the UK is ready to step up its commitment to Ukraine. In a statement to The Daily Telegraph, the PM promised £3 billion in annual support for Ukraine’s security, stretching all the way to 2030. But the commitment doesn’t end there. Starmer is making it clear: the UK is prepared to send troops if necessary to help guarantee Ukraine’s safety.
While the Prime Minister expressed a deep sense of responsibility for British servicemen and women, he made it clear that securing Ukraine is not just a matter of helping a single nation, it’s about the security of Europe as a whole, and the UK itself. He warned that any peace settlement must be lasting, and that history cannot repeat itself. Starmer was resolute: “The end of this war, when it comes, cannot merely become a temporary pause before Putin attacks again.”
The statement also raised echoes of the chaotic US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, an outcome Starmer fears could be mirrored if the West doesn’t make clear commitments to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty. While US policies under President Trump shifted towards a less supportive stance on Ukraine, Starmer’s message remains firm: Ukraine’s potential NATO membership is “irreversible.”
This week’s summit could very well define the course of the conflict and the West’s response to it. With stakes this high, the world will be watching closely.
