Yesterday, over a dozen European heads of state and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gathered in London for a pivotal defense summit aimed at advancing a peace plan for Ukraine. Hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the summit focused on strengthening Ukraine's position through continued military support and increased economic pressure on Russia.
Participants included leaders from Ukraine, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Romania. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and leaders from the European Commission and European Council were also in attendance, alongside Turkey's foreign minister.
Prime Minister Starmer emphasized the urgency of the moment, stating, \"In partnership with our allies, we must intensify our preparations for the European element of security guarantees, alongside continued discussions with the United States.\" He highlighted that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has reached \"a turning point.\"
Amid diplomatic tensions, a recent meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House escalated into a heated exchange, resulting in the cancellation of a much-anticipated minerals deal.
Despite these challenges, Zelenskyy reaffirmed his commitment to peace during a meeting with Prime Minister Starmer at 10 Downing Street. Following their discussions, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko announced a £2.26 billion ($2.84 billion) loan from the UK to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities.
As the summit concludes, leaders are expected to outline the next steps to enhance European security guarantees, aiming for a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine.
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Western leaders gather in London to push for Ukraine peace plan
cgtn.com
