The summit of international leaders to support Ukraine has concluded in London
Leaders from Ukraine, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Romania participated. The Turkish Foreign Minister, NATO Secretary General, and Presidents of the European Commission and European Council were also present.
According to the President of Ukraine’s website, “the leaders discussed the continuation of financial support for the Ukrainian defense industry, including investments in domestic weapons production, as well as increasing funding for Europe’s defense industry. Decisions on sanctions against Russia, including frozen Russian assets, will remain on the table until a sustainable peace is established. Furthermore, there is a clear position that strong security guarantees must be the foundation of any potential ceasefire. In particular, the possibility of involving NATO mechanisms as one of the security guarantees and strengthening the Ukrainian army is being considered. The start of a ceasefire should begin with a prisoner exchange and the return of children. This step will demonstrate Russia's genuine intent for peace. The leaders also discussed the importance of the U.S. role in ensuring adequate support and cooperation to end the war and maintain transatlantic unity. The development of a concrete plan based on proposals from France and the United Kingdom will continue.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an allocation of £1.6 billion for missiles for Ukraine, which will be manufactured in the United Kingdom. This is in addition to the funds announced yesterday. Recall that on March 1, Ukraine and the United Kingdom signed a loan agreement for approximately three billion U.S. dollars for Ukraine's defense needs. Starmer announced the additional funds at a press conference following the summit of European leaders in London regarding Ukraine, as reported by Ukrinform.
According to him, this funding will allow Ukraine to “acquire over 5,000 air defense missiles that will be produced in Belfast,” creating jobs in the British defense sector.
“This will be vital for protecting critical infrastructure and will strengthen Ukraine in ensuring peace when it comes, as we must learn from the mistakes of the past. We cannot accept a weak agreement like Minsk, which Russia could easily violate,” Starmer stated.
He added that he convened today’s meeting to “unite our partners around efforts to strengthen Ukraine and support a just and lasting peace for the benefit of us all.”
“Our starting point must be to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position now so that it can negotiate from a position of strength, and we will double our support,” Starmer said.
He also mentioned that the leaders agreed to continue military assistance and increase economic pressure on Russia, insisting that Ukraine must be at the negotiating table. He confirmed plans to gather a “coalition of the willing” to ensure the enforcement of any peace agreement, in which the United Kingdom will play a leading role.
“We will continue to develop a coalition of the willing to protect the agreement (on the ceasefire – ed.) in Ukraine and guarantee peace. Not every country will be able to contribute, but that does not mean we will sit idly by. On the contrary, those who wish must strengthen planning now. The United Kingdom is ready to support this with boots on the ground and planes in the air,” the British Prime Minister said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated after the summit of European leaders regarding Ukraine in London that the European Commission will soon present a plan for rearming Europe.
She mentioned that Ukraine needs “comprehensive security guarantees” that will ensure its economic and military positions.
Ursula von der Leyen added that “we must urgently rearm Europe,” and the European Commission will propose a plan for this at the European Council meeting on March 6, as she stated, “we really need to make significant progress.”
“It is extremely important to increase defense investments for a prolonged period. This is for the security of the European Union, and we need to… in the geopolitical environment we live in, prepare for the worst and thus strengthen our defense,” she said.
Von der Leyen stated that Europeans need to work on “essentially turning Ukraine into a steel porcupine that potential aggressors cannot digest.”
In response to a question about her message to the U.S., she said: “We are ready to defend democracy and the principle of the rule of law together with (the Americans – ed.), which means that one cannot invade… and intimidate their neighbors or change borders by force.”
The next meeting of European leaders will take place soon, where a new enhanced defense plan for Europe will be presented.