Keir Starmer and European leaders have outlined six key commitments to provide assistance to Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. These commitments include offering substantial support to Kyiv for strengthening its armed forces, maintaining a peacetime force level of 800,000. Starmer’s visit to Berlin for discussions with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and European partners coincided with this announcement.
Prior to this, the Prime Minister cautioned that a failed peace deal for Kyiv could escalate the conflict, emphasizing the importance of continued support for Ukraine and vigilance against potential threats from Russia. A joint statement issued by the PM and nearly a dozen allies, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, acknowledged progress in peace efforts and pledged to collaborate on security guarantees and economic recovery measures for Ukraine.
The leaders committed to providing sustained and substantial support to Ukraine in enhancing its armed forces to deter conflicts and safeguard its territory. They also vowed to establish a “Coalition of the Willing” with U.S. support to ensure Ukraine’s airspace and waters are secure. While expressing backing for Ukraine’s EU accession, there was no mention of NATO membership in the statement.
The leaders affirmed their support for President Zelenskyy and agreed to respect his decisions on Ukrainian matters, reiterating that international borders should not be altered by force. They highlighted the importance of resolving certain issues in the final stages of negotiations and expressed readiness to assist Zelenskyy in consulting his people if necessary.