European leaders gathered at Lancaster House in London to try to rescue a fragile peace in Ukraine. The gathering, which included French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, aimed to reassure Donald Trump that Europe is part of the solution to the crisis on its own continent, not part of the problem.
Starmer stressed that any final deal would have to involve Ukraine, including an agreement on where the post-hostility truce “line” would be drawn with Russia. However, Europe will spearhead the diplomacy on Kyiv’s behalf in the meantime.
The meeting came as Trump’s administration appears to be shifting towards Moscow’s view of the conflict, prompting concerns about a potential permanent rupture between Europe and the US. Dmitry Peskov, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, hailed Trump’s stance, saying it largely coincides with Russia’s vision.
European leaders have promised a UK-French led force to provide reassurance in the event of a truce in Ukraine, but the proposal is facing resistance from some countries, including Germany and Spain. The EU is also drawing up a plan to boost its spending on defence, which may not be enough to convince Trump to provide air cover and surveillance for European troops.
Starmer has warned that flawed agreements with Putin could lead to another devastating conflict, citing the failure of the Minsk accords in 2014 and 2015. However, Trump’s administration remains skeptical about the need for US involvement, with the president considering the future presence of American companies and workers in Ukraine as enough of a deterrent to Putin.
As Europe navigates this complex situation, it is clear that the path to any durable peace runs through the White House. The question now is whether Trump will respond to the EU’s appeal for cooperation or if the transatlantic relationship will continue to deteriorate.
Source: https://www.ft.com/content/40f6291c-83e1-4f0d-996f-34ed09eca175