Trump's response: What agreements did European leaders reach in London, and what level of support will Ukraine receive?

After a heated dispute between the presidents of Ukraine and the USA, Ukraine's European allies are working to establish a unified policy to resolve this diplomatic crisis. Specifically, Europe's future strategy was discussed at an informal summit in London on March 2.

RBK-Ukraine highlights the key statements made by European leaders regarding the resumption of contacts with the USA, supporting Ukraine, and the overall strategy of Europe to end the war.

The summit in London was announced prior to the Ukrainian president's visit to Washington, indicating Europe's strategic preparation for changes in US policy. However, following the scandal between Zelensky and Trump, it became particularly significant.

Attending the meeting were Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with leaders from France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Romania.

Additionally, the discussions included Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, along with President of the European Council Antonio Costa.

Preparing a European Vision for Peace

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated after the summit that there is no agreement for Ukraine yet, but "we must prepare for that moment and ensure that European countries are ready to provide security guarantees." According to him, this means "Europeans will be active in Ukraine" to ensure lasting peace.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remarked that Europe must rearm and prepare for the worst. "It is extremely important to increase defense investments over the long term. This is for the security of the EU. In the geostrategic environment we live in, we need to prepare for the worst, which means strengthening our defense," she stated.

Commenting on the summit's outcomes, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote that "Europe has awakened."

"The EU, Ukraine, the UK, Norway, Turkey – all are united in calling for assistance to Ukraine, the need for close transatlantic cooperation, and strengthening the eastern border," he wrote on social media X.

According to the British Prime Minister, any future peace agreement must include Russia; otherwise, "we will not make any progress at all." However, he emphasized that Russia cannot dictate the terms.

President of the European Council Antonio Costa stated that the EU is ready to work with partners on a peace plan for Ukraine.

"We must learn from the past. We cannot repeat the Minsk experience. We cannot repeat the tragedy of Afghanistan. For this, we need reliable security guarantees," Costa emphasized.

The Office of the President of Ukraine reported after the meeting that there is a clear position: strong security guarantees must be the foundation of any potential ceasefire. In particular, they are considering the possibility of "engaging NATO mechanisms" as one of the security guarantees – though they did not specify which ones. Additionally, according to Kyiv's position, the ceasefire should begin with a prisoner exchange and the return of children. As noted by the Office of the President, this step would demonstrate Russia's true intentions regarding peace.

In turn, the Franco-British plan mentioned by Macron proposes establishing a ceasefire "in the air, on land, and regarding energy infrastructure" for a duration of one month.

Support for Ukraine

Ursula von der Leyen stated that "Europe stands with Ukraine. Our support can lead to a just and lasting peace." She emphasized the importance of continuing financial and military assistance to Ukraine from the European Union.

It should be noted that the EU is preparing a substantial military aid package for Ukraine amounting to 6 billion euros, which includes air defense systems and 1.5 million artillery shells. This was reported by Politico, citing three EU diplomats. Additionally, following the London summit, the UK announced it would provide Ukraine with another 1.6 billion pounds for the procurement of 5,000 air defense missiles.

Importantly, according to Keir Starmer, Europe is ready to bolster its support for Ukraine "with planes in the air and boots on the ground."

"We will send a contingent to Ukraine to ensure the implementation of this agreement. We cannot wait, neglecting the opportunity to help. We will enhance our assistance immediately," Starmer declared.

The Office of the President of Ukraine noted that leaders also discussed continuing financial support for the Ukrainian defense industry. Specifically, this involves investments in domestic arms production and increasing funding for Europe's defense industry.

Resumption of Contacts with the USA

Even before the summit, a number of countries whose leaders have working relationships with Trump expressed their mediating intentions. For instance, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke about the need to "build bridges" with the USA.

"I think it is very, very important that we avoid the risk of a split in the West. I believe that in this matter, the UK and Italy can play an important role in building bridges," said Meloni in London.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the situation before the summit as "complicated": there is a "certain dilemma" in that the US position "is not as clear-cut as ours on the issue of Ukraine and Russia."

"But we must overcome this dilemma," Tusk stated. According to him, Poland has excellent relations with the USA and will strengthen them.

Following the London summit, Starmer announced a new meeting with Trump: "We agreed that we would meet with the American president very soon to collaborate until we have a common plan," stated the British Prime Minister.

The implementation of all these steps is planned for the near future. Contacts with the USA are a matter of days. Decisions regarding assistance for Ukraine may be made at the EU summit on March 6. At that time, discussions on the European peace plan are expected to continue, but its coordination may take time.

This material incorporates public statements by Keir Starmer, Donald Tusk, Ursula von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni, and Mark Rutte, as well as an article from Politico.