Starmer’s Ukraine unity plea to Europe’s leaders as Zelensky meets King after Trump Oval Office bust-up

After holding talks with Ukraine’s president on Saturday, the Prime Minister also vowed to double down on the UK’s commitment to supporting Kyiv against Vladimir Putin’s three-year war.

He also appeared to stress the need to step up plans for Britain, France and other European countries to deploy troops as peace-keepers to Ukraine if the war is ended.

European nations want America to act as a security gurarantee “back-stop” for such a peace-keeping force, which could total around 30,000 military personnel.

But Trump has refused to commit to this despite lobbying from the UK, France, Ukraine and other nations.

Ahead of hosting other European leaders in London for a defence summit following the spectacular clash between Trump and Mr Zelensky in the White House, Sir Keir said: “Now is the time for us to unite in order to guarantee the best outcome for Ukraine, protect European security, and secure our collective future.

“We have an opportunity to come together to ensure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine that secures their sovereignty and security.”

In a strong sign of Britain’s support for Ukraine, King Charles was meeting Mr Zelensky on Sunday, reportedly at the Sandringham Royal estate.

The pair met during Mr Zelensky’s surprise visit to the UK in February 2023, when the King told him “we’ve all been worried about you and thinking about your country for so long”.

Mr Zelensky used his address to Parliament during that visit to thank the UK for its steadfast support, finishing by saying “God bless Great Britain and long live the King”.

Some European countries may be tempted to cut back on their support for Ukraine if America is doing so.

The Prime Minister, who met the US president in Washington on Thursday, spoke again with him and Mr Zelensky folowing their falling-out on Friday which was beamed around the world, and delighted Putin’s regime.

In words which highlighted the gulf in Britain’s backing of Ukraine, compared to the Trump administration’s stance, Sir Keir continued: “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.”

Having stressed that Britain is ready to commit peace-keeping troops to Ukraine, he added: “In partnership with our allies, we must intensify our preparations for the European element of security guarantees alongside continued discussions with the United States.”

The PM was holding talks with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Downing Street on Sunday morning, before being joined at the summit in central London by the leaders of, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Czechia and Romania, as well as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Turkey’s foreign minister, and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

Trump and Mr Zelensky clashed during an extraordinary and angry meeting at the White House this week, to which Trump told his Ukrainian counterpart to “make a deal or we’re out”.

The US president told Mr Zelensky to be “thankful” for three years of American support since Russia’s invasion, he accused him of “gambling with World War Three”.

The bust-up began with Zelensky urging scepticism about Vladimir Putin’s commitment to diplomacy, citing Moscow’s years of broken promises on the global stage.

Vice President JD Vance told Zelensky he should be grateful to the president for “bringing an end to this conflict,” while Trump accused him of “gambling with the lives of millions of people.”

Zelensky warned the US would “feel it in the future” if it did not continue to support Ukraine.