U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer put forward a framework for a peace plan between Ukraine and Russia on Sunday, though he acknowledged it relies heavily on assumed U.S. support.
Starmer revealed the plan along with French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday. In a concession to President Donald Trump’s administration, Starmer emphasized that European countries would need to “step up their own share of the burden” toward security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a peace deal.
Starmer said the U.K. is prepared to deploy boots on the ground in Ukraine as well as air force assets to ensure Russia does not infringe on a peace agreement. He nevertheless stated that the plan would rely heavily on U.S. backing as well.
Macron told French media that European leaders were discussing a plan that would freeze strikes from the air, sea and on energy infrastructure for 30 days in Ukraine. He said the window could be used to negotiate a wider peace deal.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy himself has been on damage control since a disastrous meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House on Friday. Zelenskyy has emphasized that he is still willing to sign a rare earth mineral deal with the White House. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday ruled out “security guarantees” for Ukraine before beginning peace talks.
“The security guarantees, which I actually like to call deterrence, is all contingent upon there being a peace,” Rubio told ABC “This Week.” “Everybody saying security guarantees to secure the peace, you first have to have a peace.”
