Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have agreed to demonstrate “united leadership in support of Ukraine” during their separate meetings with Donald Trump this week. The UK Prime Minister and the French President spoke on Sunday to emphasize the significance of Ukraine being at the core of any negotiations to end the war, as stated by Downing Street.
Their conversation highlights their commitment to present a unified European stance against Russia’s aggression, especially after Trump launched attacks on Volodymyr Zelenskyy, labeling him a “dictator without elections.”
Starmer and Macron’s coordination also comes in response to Russia and US representatives agreeing to work towards ending the war without including Ukraine in discussions, which has caused international outrage. Additionally, the White House is pushing for Zelenskyy to sign a $500bn minerals deal that would give the US access to half of Ukraine’s mineral resources, a proposal Zelenskyy has not signed.
Trump escalated tensions by stating that Starmer and Macron have done nothing to end the war in Ukraine. Regardless, the two leaders agreed that the UK and Europe must continue to increase their security efforts and demonstrate united support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, which they will discuss during their US visits.
Starmer, reflecting on his upcoming trip, which some see as a test of his leadership, said that the special relationship between the US and the UK, alongside the situation in Ukraine and other common issues, will be at the heart of their discussions. During the Scottish Labour conference, Starmer expressed solid support for Ukraine, stating that his firsthand experiences of the devastation only strengthen his resolve to stand up for the country.
Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, supported the idea of Trump re-establishing links with Putin for peace talks, suggesting that there can be no negotiated peace without Russia’s involvement.
Zelenskyy, who was democratically elected, showed his willingness to step down as president if it leads to peace for Ukraine, also expressing that he would not object to Ukraine joining NATO. Labour MP Alex Sobel praised Zelenskyy, emphasizing his commitment to his country’s democracy and security. In contrast, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey criticized Trump for his stance, calling it a betrayal of Ukraine.
The discussions surrounding Trump’s demands include considerations for increasing UK defense spending to 2.5% of GDP, a goal that may face challenges due to public finance issues left by the Conservatives. Starmer’s meeting with Trump follows Macron’s visit, making Macron the first European leader to meet with Trump since his inauguration, though this fact has been downplayed by Phillipson.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/23/keir-starmer-emmanuel-macron-united-leadership-support-ukraine-donald-trump
