Response to Trump: What European leaders agreed on in London and what support Ukraine will receive

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• Preparation of the European vision for peace
• Support for Ukraine
• Restoration of contacts with the US

The summit in London had been announced before the Ukrainian president visited Washington, signaling Europe's strategic preparation for potential shifts in US policy. However, following the controversy between Zelenskyy and Trump, the summit took on even greater significance.

The meeting was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as the leaders of France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Czechia, and Romania.

Additionally, the negotiations included Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa.

Preparation of the European vision for peace

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated after the summit that an agreement for Ukraine is not yet in place, but we must prepare for this moment and ensure that European countries are ready to help with security guarantees. According to him, this means Europeans will be active in Ukraine to guarantee lasting peace.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that Europe must rearm and prepare for the worst. "It is now extremely important to increase investment in defense for the long term. This is for the security of the EU. In the geostrategic environment in which we live, we need to prepare for the worst, and therefore strengthen our defense," she said.

Commenting on the summit's results, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote that Europe has woken up.

"The EU, Ukraine, the UK, Norway, Turkey - all are united in calling for help for Ukraine, the need for close transatlantic cooperation, and strengthening the eastern border," he wrote on social media platform 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 added, Russia cannot dictate the terms.

London Summit (photo: Getty Images)

European Council President António 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 Afghanistan tragedy. And for that, we need strong security guarantees," Costa emphasized.

The Office of the President of Ukraine reported following the meeting that there is a clear position: the foundation of any potential ceasefire must be strong security guarantees. Specifically, the possibility of involving NATO mechanisms as one of the security guarantees is being considered - though the exact mechanisms have not been explained. Additionally, according to Kyiv's stance, the start of the ceasefire should begin with the exchange of prisoners and the return of children. As emphasized by the President's Office, this would be a step that demonstrates Russia's true intentions regarding peace.

Meanwhile, the Franco-British plan, as described by Macron, proposes establishing a ceasefire in the air, at sea, and in energy infrastructure for a period of one month.

Support for Ukraine

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

The EU is preparing a large military aid package for Ukraine worth 6 billion euros, which includes air defense systems and 1.5 million artillery shells, according to Politico, citing three EU diplomats. Additionally, after the London summit, the UK announced it would provide Ukraine with another 1.6 billion pounds for the purchase of 5,000 air defense missiles.

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

Starmer said that they would send a contingent to Ukraine to ensure the implementation of the agreement and emphasized that they could not wait while neglecting the opportunity to help. He added that they would strengthen their support immediately.

As noted by the Office of the President of Ukraine, leaders also discussed the continuation of financial support for Ukraine's defense industry, particularly focusing on investments in domestic weapon production, as well as increasing funding for Europe's defense industry.

Restoration of contacts with the US

Ahead of the summit, several countries whose leaders have working relations with Trump expressed their intention to mediate. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized the need for building bridges with the US.

"I think it is very, very important that we avoid the risk that the West divides. I think on this, the UK and Italy can play an important role in bridge building," Meloni said in London.

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

"We have to transcend this dilemma," Tusk stated. He added that Poland has excellent relations with the US and will work to strengthen them.

Following the London summit, Starmer announced a new meeting with Trump: "We agreed that leaders will meet again very soon to keep the pace behind these actions and to keep working towards this shared plan," the British prime minister said.

The implementation of all these steps is planned for the near future. Contacts with the US are a matter of days. Decisions regarding aid for Ukraine may be made at the EU summit on March 6. It seems that discussions on the European peace plan will continue, but its agreement may take longer.

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