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Sir Keir Starmer has said allies must ensure there is "fair" and "just" peace in Ukraine as he arrived in Washington to support Volodymyr Zelensky in crunch talks with Donald Trump. The Prime Minister joined six other European leaders on Monday in a high-stakes diplomatic mission to influence Trump's Ukraine peace approach following his Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin.
The European delegation seeks to persuade the US president not to push for a settlement that rewards Putin's aggression whilst securing American security guarantees for any military peacekeeping force. Starmer was joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italy's Giorgia Meloni, Finland's Alexander Stubb, Nato chief Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
European unity mission
The meeting comes after Trump suggested on his Truth Social platform that Ukraine would have to accept there was "no getting back" Crimea and that there would be "no going into Nato by Ukraine". Only the BBC reports that European leaders held five separate group chats over the weekend and upended August holiday schedules to coordinate their response to Trump's Putin summit.
Starmer said in a video posted on X: "Everybody wants it to end, not least the Ukrainians. But we've got to get this right. We've got to make sure there is peace, that it is lasting peace and that it is fair and that it is just." The Prime Minister's spokesman said the UK is working "hand in glove" with Trump on Ukraine, insisting Ukraine remains on an "irreversible path" to Nato membership.
Diplomatic atmosphere shift
Only the Evening Standard reports that Trump placed his hand on Zelensky's shoulder and pointed to his chest while sharing a joke, showing markedly improved personal chemistry from their contentious February meeting. The February encounter ended in a public spat that saw US Vice-President JD Vance accuse Zelensky of not being thankful enough to America, temporarily halting aid.
According to the Mirror's body language expert analysis, Zelensky's choice to wear a black military-style suit shows he wants to "pull out all the stops" for diplomatic success. The Ukrainian president expects to face calls from Trump to concede full Russian control of Donetsk and Luhansk in exchange for Russian withdrawal from other Ukrainian areas.
Security guarantees focus
Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff suggested that measures similar to Nato's Article 5 mutual defence provision could be offered by the US without Kyiv joining the alliance. He told CNN this was "game-changing" after talks with Putin, saying: "We were able to win the following concession: That the United States could offer Article 5-like protection."
Only the Independent reports that Putin made parallel diplomatic calls to leaders of Brazil, India, South Africa and Central Asian countries during the White House meeting. Zelensky said any peace deal must be lasting, adding: "Russia must end this war, which it itself started."
High-stakes expectations
The security guarantees discussion represents a key compromise attempt, with Trump appearing to drop previous ceasefire demands after his Putin summit. Zelensky posted on X ahead of the talks: "Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe, as well as to humiliate diplomatic efforts. That is precisely why we are seeking assistance to put an end to the killings."
The spokesman added: "Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine's pathway to the EU or Nato." Trump will host Zelensky in the Oval Office before a separate meeting with European leaders in the White House's East Room.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Evening Standard", "BBC", "Independent", "Mirror", "CNN" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
