British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are taking the lead in shaping Europe’s security, bolstering Ukraine’s defenses, and preventing a ceasefire that would favor Moscow. The two leaders convened a crisis summit in London to discuss their efforts, which come as the US administration has been at odds with Kyiv.
Starmer and Macron have faced criticism from Trump, who berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not being grateful enough for US support. However, the UK and France are working together to recruit other countries to send troops to Ukraine to protect a ceasefire.
The EU is due to hold a summit on Thursday but faces challenges in supporting Kyiv due to Hungary’s opposition to draft conclusions. NATO is also facing a transatlantic rift as the US pushes for a quick ceasefire that would favor Russia.
Macron has suggested deploying European troops to Ukraine after a ceasefire, while Starmer emphasizes the importance of strengthening the relationship with America. The two leaders agree on supporting Ukraine against Russia but differ in their approach.
Their efforts come as many Europeans and Britons are concerned about the US administration’s stance on Ukraine, making Starmer’s commitment to maintaining ties with America crucial.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/starmer-macron-uk-france-ukraine-peace-trump-3d9e7cd2f85f37d8644a78d8a2ec36ae