UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has come to the fore this week. After a friendly and successful meeting with US president Donald Trump in The Oval Office on Thursday he has emerged as "the 
adult in the room" following the disgraceful ambush of Ukraine president Vlodymyr Zelenskyy and childlike temper tantrum from Trump and his co-conspirator, vice-president J D Vance, in the same venue on Friday.
Trump "loses it" with Zelenskyy [Video courtesy of CNN]
Even Piers Morgan, close buddy of Trump for 10 years, conceded that Starmer has just had his best week in the job of UK prime minister. Words and phrases like "statesmanlike" and "stepping up to the plate" have been uttered across Europe as European leaders have declared their support for Zelenskyy and the beleauguered Ukraine.
On Saturday, in Downing Street, Zelenskyy and Starmer signed an agreement to accelerate $2.8 billion worth of loans to Ukraine. The first tranche of funding is expected to be disbursed next week, according to the UK government. The loan will ultimately be repaid using Russian funds seized by the West in the early stages of the war. Zelenskyy said “This is the fair way: the one who started the war should pay.”
That so many leaders "downed tools" and flew to London at short notice for this afternoon's summit is testament to the important point Europe, NATO and the world have reached in the last few days. A "once in a generation moment", according to Starmer.
Some 18 dignitories have assembled at Lancaster House for the summit, including Justin Trudeau, prime minister of Canada, whose country is not directly involved.
Zelenskyy and Starmer at the London Summit [AP News]
Noticeably absent were the leaders of the three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, but we were given to understand that they are fully behind Ukraine and NATO. These three republcs are deemed to be the most at risk, should Vladimir Putin's expansionist plans not be stopped.
The agenda for the summit has been set by Starmer in consultation with Zelenskyy and French president Emmanuelle Macron, who also had a successful visit with Trump last week. The plan is to thrash out three goals: "Ukraine’s short-term needs; securing a “lasting deal” to end the conflict; and “planning for strong security guarantees.”, according to a statement from Downing Street.
"Family photo" of the delegates at the Ukraine Summit in London [France 24]
Back row (L-R):
NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte; Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof; Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson; Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz; Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store; Czech Republic's Prime Minister Petr Fiala; Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni; Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan
Middle row (L-R)
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez; Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen; European Council President Antonio Costa; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Romania's Interim President Ilie Bolojan
Front row (L-R)
Finland's President Alexander Stubb; French President Emmanuel Macron; UK Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk
In a statement ahead of the London summit Starmer said: “Three years on from Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, we are at a turning point. Today I will reaffirm my unwavering support for Ukraine and double down on my commitment to provide capacity, training and aid to Ukraine, putting it in the strongest possible position.”
The delegates at the Ukrainian Summit in London [The Guardian]
STOP PRESS:
After the meeting broke up several participants answered questions from the Press, while Vlodymyr Zelenskyy flew by helicopter to Sandringham House in Norfolk for an audience with King Charles III.
Reaction to that meeting and the official Press conference by Sir Keir Starmer to come .....
King Charles III meets Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Sandringham [SKY News]
UPDATE:
At the official press conference following the summit, Sir Keir Starmer said that the European powers must realise it is “not a moment for more talk, it is time to act.
"Every nation must contribute ..... in the best way that it can, bringing different capabilities and support to the table, but all taking responsibility to act, all stepping up their own share of the burden.
"So we agreed some important steps today.
"First, we will keep the military aid flowing and keep increasing the economic pressure on Russia to strengthen Ukraine now.
“Second, we agreed that any lasting peace must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, and Ukraine must be at the table.
Starmer's press conference 2 March 2025 [UNITED24 Media]
"Third, in the event of a peace deal, we will keep boosting Ukraine’s own defensive capabilities to deter any future invasion.
“Fourth, we will go further to develop a 'coalition of the willing' to defend a deal in Ukraine and to guarantee the peace.
"Not every nation will feel able to contribute but that can’t mean that we sit back. Instead, those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency, the UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others. Europe must do the heavy lifting.”
Starmer declined, when asked, to say which countries were "in", saying that it was their prerogative to announce their intentions themselves in the coming days.
He also announced that the group would reconvene "soon" to keep developments moving at pace.
© Paul Whitelock
Photos and videos:
AP News, CNN, France 24, SKY News, The Guardian, UNITED24 Media
Acknowledgements:
BBC News, CNN, SKY News, The Guardian
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