Britain and France are working together on a peace proposal for Ukraine, aiming to secure backing from former U.S. President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has revealed. The initiative follows a crucial meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, where the future of Western support for Ukraine was brought into question.
Speaking on Sunday, Starmer described the plan as a significant step forward and emphasized the need for a “coalition of the willing” within Europe to support Kyiv. However, he underscored that any ceasefire agreement must have the endorsement of the United States to prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from launching another invasion.
“In other words, we’ve got to find those countries in Europe that are prepared to be a bit more forward-leaning,” Starmer said in an interview with BBC television. “The UK and France are the most advanced in their thinking on this, which is why President Macron and I are working on this plan, which we will then discuss with the U.S.”
The announcement comes after Starmer met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Trump on Saturday, following his discussions with Zelenskyy at Downing Street. The flurry of diplomatic activity highlights Europe’s growing concern over the long-term security of Ukraine, especially as Trump has been skeptical of continued American aid to Kyiv.
Starmer reiterated that for any peace agreement to hold weight, the U.S. must provide a security guarantee. “I’ve always been clear that this is going to need a U.S. backstop because, without it, I don’t think it would be a real guarantee,” he said.
The UK is now preparing to host Western leaders in London to further the discussions on a potential settlement for Ukraine. As uncertainty looms over future U.S. involvement, European nations are pushing to find a viable path toward peace while ensuring that Ukraine remains secure against future threats.
