Keir Starmer, EU Leaders Rush to Stop Trump from Ceding Ukraine to Putin
Sir Keir Starmer and European Leaders to Pressure Trump on Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer and European leaders are set to urge Donald Trump not to give parts of Ukraine to Russia during his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin. The UK Prime Minister will participate in a call with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, France's Emmanuel Macron, and Germany's Friedrich Merz, followed by an emergency virtual summit with Mr. Trump and US Vice President JD Vance before Trump's talks with Putin in Alaska.
Trump aims to end the three-year conflict in Ukraine but concerns exist in European capitals that he might agree to hand over Ukrainian territory to Russia. Zelensky has stated he will not surrender Ukraine's eastern Donbas region to Russia for peace, fearing it could be used as a base for future attacks.
Sir Keir is expected to support Zelensky's position in the call with Trump, emphasizing that any peace deal must be agreed upon with Ukraine, not imposed on it. The UK and EU leaders will argue against rewarding Putin for aggression by allowing territorial gains and insist that changes to the Ukraine-Russia border are unacceptable.
The UK and EU have expressed concerns about European leaders' public demands regarding the Trump-Putin talks, fearing it may strain relations with the US. There have been calls for Zelensky to be included in the discussions to ensure European and Ukrainian interests are considered.
The "coalition of the willing," led by the UK, France, and Ukraine, will convene to update partners on the day's discussions. This international effort supports Ukraine towards lasting peace and includes 31 countries pledging support for Kyiv. The UK remains focused on achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, backed by strong security guarantees.
Zelensky has rejected demands for Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk region, as it could facilitate a future Russian invasion. Trump has hinted at the possibility of territorial exchanges to resolve the conflict, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming Ukrainian territory from Russia. The EU stresses the need for peace respecting international law and Ukraine's sovereignty, with negotiations requiring a ceasefire or reduced hostilities.