UK’s prime minister urges Europe to face harsh reality at Security Summit

Proceeding from a recent article, Bloomberg highlights that UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer will address participants at the European Security Summit in London on March 2, urging them to confront the "harsh reality" of the ongoing geopolitical situation. 

Starmer is determined to prevent the collapse of the transatlantic alliance over Ukraine, emphasising the critical need for increased defence spending. He will assert that "carefully crafted speeches" alone are insufficient to persuade President Donald Trump to provide the necessary security guarantees to Kyiv.

The prime minister and other leaders at the summit will offer concrete support for Ukraine, aiming to revive the possibility of a peace agreement with Russia. The leaders will also focus on convincing Trump that Europe is capable of defending itself. At the same time, the US is applying pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, demanding public apologies for his doubts about the effectiveness of the ceasefire. Starmer has already pledged significant financial assistance to Ukraine, announcing a $3.2 billion loan. 

After meeting with President Zelenskyy, Starmer held productive discussions with both Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. The London summit, following similar events in Paris, is set to focus on strengthening both Ukraine's and Europe's defence capabilities.

The event will see participation from Macron, Zelenskyy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and representatives from Canada, Germany, and Türkiye. The prime minister, alongside other leaders, will present specific proposals to aid Ukraine, with the goal of reviving peace negotiations with Russia. 

Discussions at the summit will focus on: 

Strengthening Ukraine’s position now – including ongoing military support and increased economic pressure on Russia. 

The need for a strong lasting deal that delivers a permanent peace in Ukraine and ensures that Ukraine is able to deter and defend against future Russian attack. 

Next steps on planning for strong security guarantees. 

By Naila Huseynova