European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer are calling on US President Donald Trump to support a proposed one-month truce deal with Russia over Ukraine. The plan, which was discussed at a summit in London, aims to provide air, sea, and energy infrastructure cover for any ceasefire.
Macron said the initial truce would be easier to verify than overseeing it on the ground along the entire front line. Starmer stated that Europe must do the heavy lifting but requires strong US backing. The UK has agreed to provide £1.6 billion in export guarantees for air defence missiles to Ukraine, with more than 5,000 missiles to be supplied.
Trump has expressed willingness to help deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from launching another attack on Ukraine through the presence of US companies and workers. However, a Starmer ally said that while this might be enough to increase interest in peace, it was not considered sufficient to ensure security guarantees without military backing.
The proposed deal also involves Ukraine signing an agreement to provide the US with revenue from some of its mineral reserves, giving Washington an economic stake in a potential peace settlement. Germany, Spain and Poland have so far not offered to join a coalition of the willing, but Starmer said that several countries are showing interest in participating.
As the situation continues to escalate, European leaders emphasize the need for urgent action to find a solution to the conflict.
Source: https://www.ft.com/content/603ba62c-73b2-4e14-846d-e3825c79bf56