UK, France, and Ukraine join forces to outfox Putin and Trump’s tangled tactics.
Ukraine and Russian flags.
Credit: Shutterstock, Svet foto
In a dramatic bid to bring an end to Russia’s relentless war in Ukraine, British, French and Ukrainian leaders have allegedly hatched a plan that could finally force a ceasefire. The idea, hot off the press, is to work up a ceasefire proposal that will soon be tabled for discussions with the United States. With tensions soaring and alliances shifting, this bold move is being described as a crucial lifeline for Ukraine and a stern message to Moscow.
Bridging the gap with bold diplomacy
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made it clear that this isn’t just another round of political posturing. “We’ve now agreed that the United Kingdom, along with France and possibly one or two others, will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting, and then we’ll discuss that plan with the United States,” Starmer told the BBC. His aim? To transform the collapse of previous peace talks into a renewed opportunity to engage directly with key players like U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Instead of turning up the heat with more rhetoric, Starmer appears to be positioning himself as a bridge builder to restore peace talks. As he put it, the worst outcome would be a mere pause in fighting – a temporary lull before Putin strikes again. “If there is to be a deal, then that agreement has to be defended,” he warned (BBC).
The ‘coalition of the willing’
The plan is set to take centre stage at a high-profile summit at Lancaster House – a stately 200-year-old mansion just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace. This gathering of European heavyweights is no ordinary meeting. Alongside leaders from France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Romania, attendees will include Turkey’s foreign minister, NATO’s top brass, and the presidents of the European Commission and European Council.
This ‘coalition of the willing’ is buzzing with talk of establishing a European military force that could be deployed to support a ceasefire in Ukraine. As Starmer put it, there are “intense discussions” underway to secure a US-backed security guarantee – an essential pillar for any lasting peace.
Interestingly, while Starmer remains sceptical of Russian President Vladimir Putin, he’s surprisingly banking on Trump’s promises. “Do I believe Donald Trump when he says he wants lasting peace? The answer to that is yes,” he asserted (BBC). With Trump’s recent outburst against Zelenskyy at the White House – a fiery exchange that left the Ukrainian leader visibly shaken – the dynamics of international diplomacy have taken an unexpected twist.
In a private meeting, Starmer even embraced Zelenskyy, signalling a unified European front against what many see as Trump’s puzzling neutrality in the conflict.
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