European leaders are scheduled to convene in London this Sunday to strengthen support for “securing a just and enduring peace” in Ukraine.
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is set to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday, preceding a more extensive summit of European leaders the following day. According to Downing Street, the main focus of the summit will be on ensuring continued support for Ukraine in its pursuit of peace.
The rallying of European support comes after a public disagreement between Zelenskyy and United States President Donald Trump, highlighting a potential shift in US support for Ukraine. The White House meeting between the two leaders turned confrontational, with Trump questioning Zelenskyy’s attitude and hinting at the possibility of reduced US backing for Ukraine.
The summit is also expected to address the need for increased defense cooperation among European countries amid growing concerns over whether the US will maintain its commitment to NATO.
President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has expressed willingness to discuss the possibility of a European nuclear deterrent following a call from Friedrich Merz, who is anticipated to be Germany’s future chancellor. Merz has emphasized the urgency to achieve defense independence from the US.
Al Jazeera’s Milena Veselinovic, reporting from London, noted that the summit would now be of even greater significance due to the recent tense interaction between Trump and Zelenskyy. European leaders are facing the possibility of the US not providing military support to Ukraine or possibly pulling back some of its existing support. Consequently, European nations will need to consider how they can bolster their defense capabilities independently, a daunting task according to many analysts.
During a contentious meeting at the Oval Office witnessed by US and international media, Trump and Vice President JD Vance intervened vocally, accusing Zelenskyy of a lack of gratitude and refusal to accept proposed peace terms.
It was evident that Trump’s stance on Ukraine was opposed by most European leaders, who expressed their support for Ukraine and criticized Trump’s approach. Leaders from the European Union, such as Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, and individual countries like Macron, Merz, and Starmer all came out in support of Ukraine. However, Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, backed Trump’s stance.
The discord among world leaders highlights the ongoing complexities and evolving strategies in response to the conflict in Ukraine.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/1/zelenskyy-starmer-to-meet-as-europe-rallies-for-ukraine-amid-trump-spat?traffic_source=rss
