The United Kingdom will collaborate with European nations to develop a Ukraine peace proposal for presentation to U.S. President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced following a summit in London. Starmer emphasized that a "coalition of the willing" would unite to create a plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine and securing Trump’s support. This move comes days after a highly publicized confrontation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, which signaled growing tensions in Washington’s stance on aid to Kyiv.
In contrast, Zelenskyy received strong assurances of support from European leaders at the London security summit, which was hastily convened by Starmer. The two leaders greeted each other warmly, reinforcing their alliance. Tensions had flared between Trump and Zelenskyy during a live Oval Office meeting, where Trump repeatedly interrupted Zelenskyy and accused him of "gambling with World War III."
Following the contentious meeting, Zelenskyy cut short his U.S. visit and turned to European leaders for support.
The Coalition of the Willing
A "coalition of the willing" refers to an ad hoc alliance of countries that voluntarily come together to address a specific geopolitical or military issue. Starmer’s coalition aims to draft a Ukraine peace plan that provides security guarantees acceptable to Kyiv while also being palatable to Trump, who has made it clear that neither NATO nor the U.S. will extend formal security commitments to Ukraine.
It remains uncertain whether the coalition will take responsibility for implementing security guarantees or deploying forces in Ukraine. Unlike formal international bodies like the European Union or NATO, this coalition consists of nations that join on a voluntary basis.
While European leaders have not disclosed specific details of their peace proposal, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested a temporary ceasefire involving a one-month suspension of air and sea attacks, as well as strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. France and the UK have also expressed willingness to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine as part of any ceasefire agreement.
Participants in the Coalition
Starmer confirmed that the UK, France, and additional European nations would be part of the coalition, though he did not specify all members. However, 12 European leaders or representatives attended the London security summit, including:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof
- Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen
- Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson
- Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre
- Finnish President Alexander Stubb
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk
Additional key attendees included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Motivations for the Initiative
Timothy Ash, an associate fellow at Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia programme, stated that Starmer’s initiative was a direct response to the contentious White House meeting. "Europe needed to take charge of the peace process, and it did," Ash remarked. He highlighted that the UK is well-positioned to lead this effort, as it serves as a bridge between the U.S. and Europe, unburdened by internal EU politics.
Efforts to unify the EU’s position on Ukraine have been complicated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has consistently opposed unconditional support for Kyiv. Orban has even suggested that the EU initiate direct talks with Russia, calling for a separate European ceasefire negotiation.
Potential Impact on Ukraine
Ash believes Starmer’s coalition is a positive step because previous U.S.-Russia peace negotiations, such as those held in Saudi Arabia, excluded European and Ukrainian input. Zelenskyy, following the summit, expressed confidence in "Europe’s clear support."
Ash cautioned that any durable peace agreement must ensure Ukraine continues receiving military aid. "Ensuring the uninterrupted flow of weapons to Ukraine is more critical than deploying peacekeepers on the ground," he noted. Previous U.S.-Russia discussions did not address continued arms supplies, making European involvement crucial.
Historical Precedents
Coalitions of the willing have played significant roles in past international conflicts. For instance, in 1999, Australia led the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) under a United Nations mandate, with forces from Australia, the UK, and New Zealand deployed to stabilize the region. This was the first UN-approved peacekeeping operation executed by a coalition of the willing.
Starmer’s new coalition aims to craft a comprehensive peace plan, balancing the interests of Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S. while navigating diplomatic tensions with Russia. Whether this initiative will gain traction with Trump remains to be seen, but it marks a significant effort by Europe to assert leadership in resolving the Ukraine conflict.
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