The British prime minister, Keir Starmer, host of European leaders gathered this Sunday in London, has announced the formation of a coalition of countries willing to defend an agreement to end the war in Ukraine and to be guarantors of La Paz.
“We are going to develop a coalition of (countries) willing to defend an agreement to end the Ukraine War and to be guarantors of peace,” Starmer explained at a press conference after the meeting.
In addition, they have agreed to maintain military aid and increase economic pressure on Russia, as well as defend the need for Ukraine to be represented at any table in which peace is negotiated.
“Not all countries can contribute, but that does not mean that we are going to sit down,” Starmer has argued. On the contrary “those willing will intensify the planning immediately, with authentic urgency.” “The United Kingdom is willing to support it with military presence on the ground and airplanes, along with other media,” he explained.
Starmer has assured that there are “several countries” willing to participate in this initiative. “Several countries have indicated today that they want to be part of the plan we are preparing. I will let them be the ones who pronounce on how they want to contribute exactly,” he said.
“But we have been able to advance. I accept without criticism and respect the position of other countries that do not feel they want to contribute in that way, but I feel that unless someone progresses, we will continue at this point and we will not be able to advance,” he argued.
Starmer has affirmed that the United Kingdom “will take a step forward and lead” this initiative. “We have done it throughout history as a nation and we have to do it again,” he argued.
A plan for Ukraine
The appointment has also served to design a plan to stop the fight in Ukraine and present it to the US president, Donald Trump, Starmer explained from the house of Lancaster, headquarters of the contacts in London.
The United Kingdom, France and other countries already work in a plan to end violence in Ukraine. In fact, Starmer explained that he has already discussed the details of the plan with Trump in a telephone conversation on Saturday night to Sunday.
“Look. I talked to President Trump last night. I will not give the details of the conversation, but I would not take any step in this direction if I did not believe that it is something that can work to ensure that we move together: Ukraine, Europe, United Kingdom and the United States, together towards a lasting peace.”
“The objective of today’s meeting was to unite European allies in this. Our initial position must be put to Ukraine in the strongest possible position,” he argued, because “any agreement must be backed by force.”
These leaders will meet “very soon” to “act” and “keep the pace” to materialize this plan. “Today we are at a historical road crossing,” he warned. “It’s not time to talk more. It’s time to act,” he said.
In addition, Starmer has referred to the necessary “guarantees” to avoid “more conflicts.” “I don’t want conflict in Ukraine, or in Europe and obviously neither in the United Kingdom. I want stability in the United Kingdom,” he said. “The way to guarantee stability is to ensure that we can defend an agreement in Ukraine because what history tells us is that if there is conflict in Europe, it will reach our coasts,” he said.
The British leader has stressed that Russia “cannot dictate the terms of peace” and has “obviously” advocated to include Russia in any process. “If it is achieved, the agreement will have to be defended,” he said, since “on other occasions the cessation of hostilities without support has been followed by Russia’s breaches. It is a situation that we have to avoid it,” he continued.
New funds for armament
Starmer has also revealed that they will allocate 1.6 billion pounds (more than 1.9 billion euros) for the acquisition of 5,000 anti -aircraft defense missiles for Ukraine, an investment that will generate employment in the United Kingdom. “It is vital to protect critical infrastructure and reinforce Ukraine,” he said.
This figure adds to 2,200 million pounds (more than 1.9 billion euros), announced on Saturday and backed by a loan on funds seized to Russia.
The money will be used to buy 5,000 missiles “that will be manufactured in Belfast and will create employment in our brilliant defense sector,” according to Starmer.
On the other hand, Starmer has rejected that the United States “is not a reliable partner” and recalled American support “for many, many decades.” “And it is still reliable,” he stressed before explaining that this Sunday’s conversations are based on Europe will collaborate with the United States.
