Sir Keir Starmer will be accompanying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington tomorrow for his crunch meeting with Donald Trump after the US leader faced pressure to include Europe in peace negotiations.
He will join European leaders including France’s president Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni and Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz after the US president reportedly extended an invitation to them. The show of European unity comes as Vladimir Putin demanded control of eastern Ukraine as his price for peace.
Also set to attend the talks at the White House are NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. The high-stakes meeting follows Friday’s Alaska summit between Trump and Putin that failed to produce a ceasefire.
Putin’s Territorial Demands
This comes after Vladimir Putin reportedly made demands to take control of the key eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine during his summit with Mr Trump as a condition for ending the war.
In exchange, Mr Putin would give up other Ukrainian territories held by his troops, according to several news reports citing sources close to the matter. The Russian leader is said to be willing to freeze current front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions whilst keeping control of the mineral-rich Donbas.
Mr Trump is said to be planning to urge Mr Zelenskyy to agree to the conditions as part of a peace deal to end the war, despite the Ukrainian president previously ruling out formally handing any territory to Moscow. Such a move would deprive Ukraine of defensive lines and open the way for Moscow to conduct further offensives.
Russia already controls a fifth of Ukraine, including about three-quarters of Donetsk province, which it first entered in 2014. Moscow’s demands would hand it full control of territory it has partially occupied for more than a decade.
European Unity Before Washington Talks
European leaders who make up the “coalition of the willing” are set to hold a conference call today ahead of the crunch talks between Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy, which some coalition members are set to attend.
They are expected to discuss how to bring Mr Zelenskyy into talks after Mr Trump and Mr Putin’s meeting saw him left out in the cold. The virtual meeting, co-chaired by Macron, Starmer and Merz, aims to form a singular front before Zelenskyy faces Trump in Washington.
In coordinated statements following the Alaska summit, European leaders said Mr Zelenskyy must play a greater role in future talks, and that peace cannot be achieved without him. They have been clear that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.”
Coalition’s Peace Conditions
In their 13 August joint statement, the coalition leaders outlined four key conditions for any peace agreement. First, meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or lasting cessation of hostilities.
Second, international borders cannot be changed by force and any territorial issues must be decided only with Ukraine’s participation. Third, diplomatic engagement must be reinforced by continued military and economic pressure on Russia.
Fourth, Ukraine must receive strong security guarantees, with the Coalition of the Willing ready to help provide them. The statement emphasised: “No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries.
Crucially, the European leaders insisted Russia cannot have a veto over Ukraine’s path to EU or NATO membership, directly challenging Moscow’s long-standing demands.
Washington Meeting Crucial for Ukraine
The US president said the Washington talk with Mr Zelenskyy could potentially pave the way for a three-way meeting with Mr Putin. Trump has told allies he wants to move quickly toward such a summit, possibly as early as 22 August.
Downing Street confirmed the Prime Minister will join other European leaders at the meeting in the Oval Office. A statement from No 10 said: “At the meeting that will take place at the White House tomorrow, the Prime Minister, with other European partners, stands ready to support this next phase of further talks.”
The statement added Sir Keir “will reaffirm that his backing for Ukraine will continue as long as it takes” and that allies remain committed to finding “a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.
Stakes High for Zelenskyy
For Zelenskyy, the stakes could not be higher. He will arrive in Washington as President Trump takes the lead in pushing for a settlement that could see Ukraine forced to cede territory to end the war.
European leaders believe their coalition can give Zelenskyy added diplomatic support as he enters talks that could determine Ukraine’s future. The presence of Starmer, Macron, Merz and other European leaders is intended to ensure Ukraine’s interests are protected.
Mr Zelenskyy said on Saturday he had accepted Trump’s invitation to Washington “to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war.” He emphasised the importance of European involvement “to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America.
Trump’s Peace Push
Speaking after the Alaska summit, Trump said on social media that he had spoken with Zelenskyy and European leaders. It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a peace agreement,” he wrote.
The president claimed the meeting with Putin went “very well” and described late-night calls with Zelenskyy and European leaders as productive. However, the summit produced no concrete agreements or ceasefire.
Trump has faced criticism for appearing to pressure Ukraine whilst showing deference to Putin. “There are a lot of European leaders, but they rely on me — very much rely on me. If it wasn’t for me, this thing would never get solved,” Trump said at a press briefing last week.
European Concerns
The European push to be included in Monday’s talks reflects deep concerns about Trump potentially making concessions to Putin without adequate safeguards for Ukraine and European security.
French President Macron stressed after Wednesday’s coalition call that any territorial exchange “must only be discussed with Ukraine.” He and other European leaders have warned against any deal that rewards Russian aggression.
British officials have emphasised that international borders cannot be changed by force and that Ukraine’s sovereignty must be protected in any peace agreement. The coalition has also pushed for binding security guarantees that would deter future Russian aggression.
As the diplomatic chess game intensifies, Monday’s meeting in Washington represents a crucial moment for Ukraine’s future and the broader European security architecture. The presence of European leaders alongside Zelenskyy signals their determination to ensure any peace deal protects Ukraine’s interests and does not reward Russian territorial expansion.
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Image Credit (Shortened):
Keir Starmer meets President Zelenskyy & NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at 10 Downing Street (10 Oct 2024) – by Kirsty O’Connor / No 10 Downing Street, licensed under OGL v3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
