The Times: British, French leaders unite to push Trump for multilateral peace talks on Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will each meet with US President Donald Trump this week, have agreed to present a unified stance on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Diplomatic sources told The Times that both leaders aim to convince Trump to abandon his push for bilateral peace talks with Russia, urging him instead to secure European commitments to Ukraine’s future security, per Caliber.Az.

Macron is set to meet Trump on February 24, with Starmer scheduled for a meeting on the 27th.

Earlier, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz indicated that Washington is reconsidering its approach to its relationships with Russia and Ukraine.

At the same time, UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson refrained from criticizing Trump’s initiative to open talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. She stated that it was the right move for Trump to engage Russia in negotiations but emphasized that “a settlement is not possible” without Ukraine’s involvement.

She explained, “It’s going to require negotiations with the Russians as part of the settlement, so I think it’s the right approach. President Trump got the Russians to the negotiating table, but any lasting settlement, when it comes to peace, requires the voices of the Ukrainians, the voices of President Zelenskyy, to be part of it.”

Phillipson further stated, “There can be no settlement unless there are talks involving both Russia and Ukraine.”

This comes less than a week after Trump’s February 12 call with Putin, following which US and Russian representatives met in Riyadh for the first time since the war began. The discussions included the situation in Ukraine, but Ukrainian representatives were notably absent. Ukraine has made it clear that any negotiations about the conflict without its participation, as well as the exclusion of European countries, are unacceptable. Trump, however, dismissed the necessity of Zelenskyy’s presence in peace talks.

Tensions between Kyiv and Washington have been rising recently, particularly after Ukraine rejected U.S. conditions related to a proposed deal involving Ukrainian fossil fuel revenues in exchange for US aid. Additionally, Trump has criticized Zelenskyy over Ukraine’s failed presidential election under martial law. Moscow has also declared Zelenskyy’s presidency illegitimate after the expiration of his official powers.

In another development, The Wall Street Journal reported that Macron and Starmer are expected to discuss with Trump the possibility of sending European military peacekeepers to Ukraine following a ceasefire. Under the proposal, which would not involve US troops, drones, and satellites would monitor the ceasefire, while European forces would protect vital infrastructure, cities, and ports. However, the Kremlin has said that sending peacekeepers would only be possible with the agreement of both sides and considers the proposal premature.

Starmer will present the peacekeeping plan to Trump, while Macron will discuss with the US president the broader perspectives of European countries on how to “pacify” Ukraine. Trump has previously supported the idea of a European-led peacekeeping mission after a ceasefire, without US troops. Washington has also urged Europe to take the lead in guaranteeing Ukraine's long-term security.

By Tamilla Hasanova