The echoes of tension between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continue. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that they have reached an agreement with Ukraine to work on a plan to end the war alongside France, which will subsequently be discussed with the US. Efforts towards achieving lasting peace in Ukraine will be discussed at a crucial summit today, which will also be attended by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

In an interview with the BBC, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer recounted watching the discussion that took place between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington in his office. Starmer stated, “Nobody wants to see that. That day, I immediately called Trump and Zelensky on the phone because I believe we need to focus on achieving lasting peace in Ukraine, which is crucial for the security and defense of Europe and the UK.” Starmer also mentioned having a discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron that day, emphasizing that nobody wanted to witness a heated debate in front of the cameras. Starmer pointed out that the goal of the discussions was to act as a bridge between the parties, stating, “We have agreed with Ukraine, along with France and probably 1-2 more countries, to work on a plan to stop the war. We will discuss this plan with the US later.”

“TRUMP ALSO WANTS TO END THE WAR” Starmer expressed discomfort with the Trump-Zelensky dispute, noting that Trump also expressed a desire to end the war in Ukraine. Starmer mentioned that everyone believed this except Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, “Therefore, last night we took a step and began working on a plan to end the war. This plan, which we will discuss with the US, is an important step forward from where we left off.”

“I DON’T TRUST PUTIN, I WANT SECURITY GUARANTEES” Starmer stated that no one, especially Ukrainians, desires the continuation of the war, saying, “This is also not in line with our national interests.” He addressed Zelensky’s concerns about any agreement, stating, “You cannot make an agreement that will be violated. Zelensky is right to want an agreement that will be adhered to. We extensively discussed the guarantees needed to preserve such an agreement.”

“I don’t trust Putin, that’s why I need security guarantees,” Starmer remarked, citing that Putin has proven he “resorts to attacks again.” Starmer emphasized, “An agreement that will be broken in a few months or years is meaningless.”

“WE NEED TO SUSTAIN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE US AND EUROPE” Starmer expressed confidence in Zelensky and Trump to achieve a peace agreement, noting that despite recent contradictory statements, he believed Trump’s motivation was for lasting peace. Referring to the relationship between the US and UK, Starmer mentioned, “The relationship between the US and the UK is the closest between any two countries in the world; our defense, security, and intelligence are interlinked in a way not seen anywhere else in the world.” Acknowledging current concerns over US-UK relations, Starmer admitted that many had told him he needed to “choose between Europe and the US.”

A coalition consisting of willing European countries is likely to be formed to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, Starmer highlighted, mentioning that both France and the UK are eager to take steps in this regard. Starmer stated that he will work with French President Emmanuel Macron to form a coalition and then discuss the matter with the US.