Sir Keir Starmer has declared US President Donald Trump’s commitment to security guarantees for Ukraine a significant breakthrough, following high-stakes White House talks that brought together Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and seven European leaders on Monday.
The Prime Minister, who cut short his family holiday in Scotland to attend the extraordinary summit, praised what he called “real progress” in efforts to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Speaking to the BBC after the meeting, Sir Keir emphasised there was “a real sense of unity” amongst the leaders and welcomed the “real movement forward” on establishing bilateral and trilateral meetings between Russia, Ukraine and the United States.
The White House gathering, which included French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, came just three days after Trump’s controversial summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, 15 August.
Trump Announces Historic Meeting Plans
In a dramatic development, President Trump announced on social media following Monday’s talks that he had spoken with Putin during the White House meeting and “began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined” between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Trump said he would meet with the two leaders afterward, but did not provide details on when the talks would take place.
“This was a very good, early step for a war that has been going on for almost four years,” Trump posted. The announcement marks the first potential direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte hailed Trump’s involvement as transformative. “The fact that you have said that I’m willing to participate in the security guarantees is a it’s a big step. It’s really a breakthrough,” NATO’s Rutte told Trump.
Security Guarantees Take Centre Stage
The question of security guarantees for Ukraine dominated discussions, with European leaders seeking assurances that any peace agreement would prevent future Russian aggression. Special US envoy Steve Witkoff revealed on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to allow the United States and European nations to give Ukraine “Article 5-like protection” as a security guarantee to bring an end to the war.
We were able to win the following concession: That the United States could offer Article Five-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO,” Witkoff said Sunday on CNN. This represents a significant shift in Moscow’s position, as Putin has consistently opposed Ukraine joining NATO.
Sir Keir stressed the importance of British involvement, stating: “I’m clear that the U.K. is ready to put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support a deal, working together with our allies, because that is the only way that peace will last.”
Coalition of the Willing Takes Shape
Following Monday’s meeting, Sir Keir co-chaired a virtual gathering of European and Commonwealth allies on Tuesday, dubbed the “coalition of the willing”. A Downing Street spokesperson said the prime minister had outlined plans for the coalition and US counterparts to meet in the coming days to prepare for the deployment of a “reassurance force” if hostilities were to end.
The Prime Minister told the BBC he was “very pleased” with the outcomes, including progress on security guarantees, saying this would “reassure people in Europe, in Ukraine, but particularly in the United Kingdom.
Military officials, including Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, are now travelling to Washington for detailed discussions about US involvement in security guarantees. Writing for The Telegraph, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin warned Nato allies against submitting to Moscow’s demands, and said: “Putin doesn’t want a war with Nato because he would lose. So we should not be cowed by his rhetoric or his campaign of sabotage, outrageous as it may be.”
European Unity Amid Concerns
The extraordinary show of European solidarity at Monday’s meeting was partly motivated by concerns about a repeat of February’s heated White House encounter, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly berated Zelensky. “The Europeans are very afraid of the Oval Office scene being repeated and so they want to support Mr. Zelensky,” a European diplomat revealed.
French President Macron emphasised European resolve, stating: “This is why we are all united here with Ukraine on this matter,” Macron said. You can count on us as we can count on you” to deliver peace for Ukraine and Europe more broadly.
German Chancellor Merz challenged Trump on the need for a ceasefire, insisting “The next steps ahead are the more complicated ones now … To be honest, we all would like to see a ceasefire,” with Merz saying he cannot imagine a trilateral meeting would be able to occur without a ceasefire in place.
Territorial Questions Remain Sensitive
Whilst progress was made on security guarantees, the thorny issue of territorial concessions remains unresolved. Trump has suggested that any agreement may need to involve “swapping of land”, but European leaders have consistently opposed any deal that would reward Russian aggression.
Zelensky maintained his position, writing on social media: “Ukrainians did not give up Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv after 2022.” The Ukrainian President has constitutional constraints preventing the ceding of territory, with Ukraine’s constitution forbids the ceding of territory.
Sir Keir repeatedly emphasised that “no decision should be made about Ukraine without Ukraine”, reflecting European concerns about Ukraine being pressured into unfavourable terms.
Next Steps and Challenges
Despite the optimism following Monday’s talks, significant challenges remain. Putin has rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire, preferring to move directly to peace negotiations. Following the discussions at the White House, European leaders continue to insist a ceasefire must be reached before meaningful talks between Russia and Ukraine can happen.
The UK government appears focused on ensuring Ukraine enters any negotiations from the strongest possible position. Officials believe Trump’s commitment to “cast iron” security guarantees provides Zelensky with greater flexibility in his approach, knowing Ukraine will be protected by its allies.
Sir Keir’s approach of “gratitude diplomacy” towards Trump appears to be bearing fruit, with the Prime Minister careful to praise the US President’s efforts whilst ensuring European interests are represented. The coalition’s next meeting in the coming days will be crucial in determining whether this diplomatic momentum can translate into lasting peace.
As Admiral Radakin noted, “The one weapon that is most needed in our arsenal is confidence. Despite the global instability, Britain is secure at home. Nato is strong. Russia is weak.” Whether that confidence can deliver a just and lasting peace for Ukraine remains to be seen.
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Image Credit (Shortened):
Donald Trump poses for a photo with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Trump International Scotland, Aberdeen (28 Jul 2025) – by The White House (Daniel Torok), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. (commons.wikimedia.org)
