European Leaders Convene in London After Trump-Zelensky Clash, Eye Ceasefire Plan

London, March 2, 2025 – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that the UK and France are collaborating on a plan to halt the fighting between Ukraine and Russia, just hours before hosting a critical summit of around 15 European leaders in London. The gathering, set to begin at 2:00 PM GMT, aims to forge new security guarantees for Europe amid fears of waning U.S. support, intensified by a dramatic fallout between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.

A Unified European Response

“We’ve agreed that the UK, alongside France, and possibly one or two others, will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting, which we’ll then discuss with the United States,” Starmer told the BBC. The summit follows a £2.26 billion (€2.74 billion) loan deal signed Saturday between London and Kyiv, repayable using profits from frozen Russian assets. Zelensky, who arrived in London on March 1, confirmed on Telegram that the funds would bolster Ukraine’s arms production.

The London meeting brings together heavyweights like French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa. It precedes an extraordinary EU summit on Ukraine scheduled for Thursday in Brussels.

Addressing the Trump Factor

The urgency of the summit spiked after Friday’s explosive Oval Office clash, where Trump berated Zelensky for jeopardizing peace efforts, threatened to cut U.S. support, and ejected him from the White House. The rift, broadcast live, has deepened European concerns over Trump’s pivot toward Russian President Vladimir Putin and his sidelining of Ukraine and its allies in peace talks (Zelensky’s abrupt exit).

Starmer’s ceasefire initiative aims to bridge this transatlantic divide. Downing Street emphasized that discussions will focus on strengthening Ukraine’s position through sustained military aid and heightened economic pressure on Russia, alongside planning robust security guarantees for Europe amid fears of a U.S. military pullback.

Voices of Unity and Alarm

NATO’s Mark Rutte, arriving in London, urged on X, “Everyone in Europe will have to step up more,” expressing optimism about the summit’s potential. Italy’s Meloni, a rare European attendee at Trump’s inauguration, stressed the need to avoid Western division, noting that Italy and the UK could “build bridges” with Washington. Poland’s Tusk echoed this, suggesting Warsaw’s strong U.S. ties could sway American support for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Kremlin welcomed Trump’s shift, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov telling state TV that it aligns “broadly” with Moscow’s vision, as the U.S. and Russia pursue talks excluding Ukraine and Europe (Kremlin remarks).

A “New Era of Infamy” Looms

The Trump-Zelensky spat has jolted Europe into action. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called it the start of “a new era of infamy,” urging defense of a rules-based order. EU diplomat Kaja Kallas insisted Europe must lead the “free world,” while Macron opened the door to a European nuclear deterrent—a nod to incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s call to prepare for a NATO without U.S. backing (Macron on nuclear debate).

In an interview with French media, Macron pushed for “massive, joint EU funding” in the hundreds of billions of euros to build a unified defense, citing “strategic awakening” amid uncertainty over U.S. reliability.

Summit Snapshot

• When: March 2, 2025, 2:00 PM GMT
• Where: Lancaster House, London
• Key Attendees: Starmer, Zelensky, Macron, Scholz, Trudeau, Tusk, Meloni, Rutte, von der Leyen, Costa
• Goals: Ceasefire plan, Ukraine support, European security
• Context: Follows Trump-Zelensky clash, precedes EU summit

Conclusion: Europe Steps Up

As Zelensky meets King Charles III on Sunday and joins the London summit, Europe is racing to shore up Ukraine and its own defenses against a backdrop of U.S. unpredictability. Starmer’s ceasefire proposal, backed by France, could redefine the conflict’s trajectory—if it gains traction across the Atlantic. For the latest, trac