European leaders gather in London to strengthen support for Ukraine

New Delhi, Mar 2: European leaders have gathered in London for a summit focused on security and support for Ukraine. The meeting comes amid increasing geopolitical tensions and a strained relationship between Kyiv and Washington following a heated exchange between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday. Originally planned before the dispute, the summit has now gained more significance, and all eyes of the world leaders are on this summit.

Ukrainian President Zelensky is a key figure at the talks, with European leaders reaffirming their support for Ukraine. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, hosting the event, has positioned himself as a mediator between Trump and Zelensky, emphasising the importance of diplomatic unity.

Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have been working on a European-led plan for a ceasefire in Ukraine, which will later be discussed with the United States. In a show of support, Starmer also pledged a £2.26 billion loan to Ukraine for purchasing arms. Zelensky is scheduled to meet King Charles later today.

The summit has drawn a host of prominent leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

Starmer personally welcomed each leader at Lancaster House as discussions began on strengthening European defence and support for Ukraine.

The fallout from the Trump-Zelensky confrontation has been a major point of discussion. Finnish President Alexander Stubb in an interview to BBC described the dispute as a “failure of diplomacy,” warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin was the only one to benefit from the discord.

While Starmer has stated that the summit is not meant to criticise Trump, leaders are exploring ways to mend the fractured relationship between Ukraine and the United States. Both Starmer and Macron spoke to Trump ahead of the meeting to emphasize European unity while securing continued US support.

BBC and other media reported that a key agenda item is the strengthening of European defence capabilities. Starmer has called for increased military spending and better coordination among European nations.

Starmer is advocating for a “coalition of the willing” among European nations to provide security guarantees for Ukraine. While the UK and France are leading these efforts, wider participation from other European countries is being encouraged.

With the transatlantic alliance and Ukraine’s future in question, the summit represents a key moment for European diplomacy. The world will be watching to see how Europe positions itself in the ongoing conflict and whether a viable path toward peace can be established.