The kyiv allies tighten their ranks. About fifteen leaders from countries supporting Ukraine gathered on Sunday, March 2, in the British capital, two days after the lively altercation between Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump. From the opening, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer borrowed a solemn tone evoking a “unique moment for Europe’s security”.
Among the 19 participants were in particular the French president Emmanuel Macron, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Canadian Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and Polish Donald Tusk, the head of the Italian government Giorgia Meloni, the secretary general of NATO Mark Rutte and the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, Ursula Von Der Leyen and Antonio Costa. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian head of state, was warmly welcomed by European leaders.
London and Paris offer a partial truce in Ukraine
France and Great Britain offer a truce of a month in Ukraine “in the air, on the seas and energy infrastructure,” said French president Emmanuel Macron in statements to Figaro. Before the Ukraine Summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had revealed that Paris and London worked on “a plan” to stop fighting. The advantage of such a truce is that “we know how to measure it” while the front is immense, “the equivalent of the Paris-Budapest line”, said the French president.
The cessation of hostilities would therefore not first concern the ground fights. Because “in the event of a ceasefire, it would be very difficult to verify that the front is respected,” explains Emmanuel Macron. The possibility of a deployment of European troops, in which France and Great Britain are ready to participate, would only come in a second step, he continues. “There will be no European troops on Ukrainian soil in the coming weeks,” said Emmanuel Macron to Figaro. Then he finishes: “We want peace. We don’t want it at any price, without guarantees”.
Keir Starmer claims that Europe will have to “do the bulk of work” but with the support of the United States
Europe “must do the bulk of work” in Ukraine but with the support of the United States, said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “Europe must do the bulk of work, but to defend peace on our continent, and to succeed, this effort must be strongly supported by the United States,” said the British leader at a press conference.
Keir Starmer promised to set up “a coalition of goodwill” to defend a future peace agreement in Ukraine. “A number of countries” have assumed at the top wanting to be part of this project, he added, without naming countries in particular. “I leave them to decide on how they wish to make their contribution,” he said.
Ursula von der Leyen claims that “Europe rearmously rearm”
“We must urgently rearm Europe,” said the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, adding that it would present “a global plan on the way of rearm Europe” at the EU Special Summit on Defense this Thursday, March 6, evoking the need to increase defense expenses “over a prolonged period of time”.
The 18 leaders of kyiv allied countries mentioned the need for “global security guarantees” for Ukraine in the future, which range from economic survival to military resilience “, according to Ursula von der Leyen. In parallel, “it is now of the greatest importance that we increase our expenses” of defense in Europe and that “we were preparing for the worst,” she said.
Poland calls for resisting “blackmail and aggression” of Russia
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk insisted that the West must resist the “blackmail and aggression” of Russia, calling for unity between Europe and the United States on Ukraine. “Everything must be done to ensure that Europe and the United States speak with one voice,” he said. The EU summit planned this week must send a clear message to the Russian president Vladimir Putin “that the West does not intend to capitulate before his blackmail and his assault,” said Donald Tusk.
Olaf Scholz hopes to maintain American support in Ukraine
The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed hope that the United States will continue to support Ukraine: “International and transatlantic support in Ukraine remains important for the security of the country and Europe.” It was “again confirmed” that these allies “wish to support Ukraine”, underlined the one whose country is the leading provider of assistance to kyiv since the Russian invasion, behind the United States, with a total of 44 billion euros. Ukraine is “victim of Russian assaults, and this truth remains unshakable for all,” he added.
Zelensky reiterates ready to sign the mineral agreement with the United States
Volodymyr Zelensky was ready to sign the mineral agreement negotiated with the United States but whose signature could not take place after his altercation with Donald Trump on Friday. “The agreement on the table will be signed if all parties are ready,” said Volodymyr Zelensky before leaving London, during an interview with British journalists.
“If we agreed to sign the mineral agreement, then we are ready to sign it”, “we are constructive,” he added, after Washington left the idea that the Ukrainian leader could have to leave if he did not change behavior. “We need a manager who can deal with us, deal with the Russians at one point and end this war,” said President Trump’s national security advisor Mike Waltz.