March 2 (UPI) — After President Donald Trump’s heated exchange with Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House last week, the Ukrainian president met with a summit of European leaders at Lancaster House in London to discuss Russia’s war on his country.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, flanked by Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron, told his fellow European leaders Sunday that they had agreed to work on a plan for a ceasefire to then take to the administration of President Donald Trump to broker the deal.
“We are gathered here today because this is a one-in-a-generation moment for the security of Europe and we all need to step it up,” Starmer said in a broadcast of the opening of the summit by CNN-News18, an Indian channel that operates under licensing from CNN.
His office said in a statement that the summit included the leaders of France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Romania.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa also attended.
Von der Leyen was one of the first leaders out of the closed-door session and said the summit was a “good and frank discussion” that included talks to “urgently” rearm Europe.
Starmer also held a group call with Estonian President Alar Karis, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda that similarly focused on an agreement to “come together to find a path towards a lasting peace in Ukraine that ensures their sovereignty and is backed up by strong security guarantees.”
Zelensky posted on social media about the results of a “productive meeting” with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of that summit to discuss a joint action plan for ending the war.
“No one other than Putin is interested in the continuation and quick return of the war. Therefore, it is important to maintain unity around Ukraine and strengthen our country’s position in cooperation with our allies – the countries of Europe and the United States,” Zelensky said.
“Ukraine needs peace backed by robust security guarantees. I am grateful to Italy for its continued support and partnership in bringing peace in Ukraine closer.”
Zelensky has been invited to meet with British King Charles, and will likely head there after the end of the summit.
