Keir Starmer is scheduled to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in London on Monday, as the UK Prime Minister and other key European leaders aim to guide US-led peace negotiations towards a resolution that effectively safeguards Ukraine from future Russian aggression.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will participate in the discussions at Downing Street in the early afternoon. Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will visit Washington for the first time in her current role, where she will meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials.
These talks coincide with rising European concerns regarding a potential fracture in the transatlantic alliance, especially after the US proposed a 28-point peace plan last month. This plan, which was drafted in collaboration with Russia, would have prohibited Ukraine from joining NATO, limited the size of its military, and involved ceding territory to Moscow.
Though subsequent discussions have adjusted to incorporate Ukrainian demands, European leaders are determined to prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from being rewarded for his aggressive actions. “The principle behind the talks will be for Ukraine to be able to decide its own future,” UK cabinet minister Pat McFadden told Sky News on Sunday. “This is a really pivotal moment. Everybody wants the war to come to an end, but they want it to end in a way that gives Ukraine that freedom of choice in the future. That means a just end to the war, but also security guarantees for Ukraine in the future.”
Over the weekend, Russia launched a substantial attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, deploying hundreds of drones and over 50 missiles, disrupting power in Kyiv, Odesa, and five additional regions. Ukraine retaliated by striking Rosneft PJSC’s oil refinery, located 120 miles southeast of Moscow.
European supporters of Ukraine are hopeful that sustained support throughout the winter will exacerbate Russia’s economic difficulties, eroding Putin’s negotiating leverage by next year. However, with US aid dwindling, European leaders are devising a plan to utilize Russian central bank assets that are currently frozen in Belgium to finance Ukraine. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has expressed reservations, warning of potential legal repercussions if Russia were to file a lawsuit.
Approximately €210 billion in Russian assets are immobilized on EU territory, primarily within the Brussels-based securities depository Euroclear. EU leaders are expected to reach consensus on this proposal during a meeting in Brussels on December 18.
In a separate discussion on Sunday, Starmer spoke with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, underscoring the importance of continuous international support for Ukraine’s defense. The readout from 10 Downing Street noted that both leaders emphasized that Ukraine’s security is integral to Europe’s overall security.
Starmer has been positioning himself as a European leader closely aligned with US President Donald Trump, as well as a principal ally of Ukraine. This role is complicated due to historic tensions between the US and Ukrainian leadership, which were highlighted by a heated exchange in the Oval Office earlier this year.
In Washington, Cooper is expected to communicate Britain’s support for Trump’s “efforts to secure a just and lasting peace,” according to a Foreign Office statement. Additionally, she will address the situations in Gaza and Sudan with Rubio.
This report includes contributions from Richard Bravo and Alex Wickham.
