European leaders will convene next week for an emergency summit on the war in Ukraine amid concerns that the US is proceeding with peace talks with Russia without Europe's involvement.
Sir Keir Starmer, who is expected to attend the summit in Paris, called it a "once-in-a-generation moment for our national security" and emphasized that Europe must take on a larger role within NATO.
The meeting follows remarks from Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, stating that while European leaders would be consulted, they would not participate in direct negotiations between the US and Russia on ending the war.
Senior White House officials, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are set to meet Russian negotiators in Saudi Arabia in the coming days. While US officials claim Ukraine has been invited, President Volodymyr Zelensky insists his country has received no such invitation.
Special envoy Keith Kellogg suggested that past negotiations failed due to the involvement of too many parties—comments that may heighten concerns among Ukraine and its European allies.
"It may be like chalk on the blackboard, it may grate a little bit, but I am telling you something that is really quite honest," he said on Saturday.
Europe remains haunted by the Minsk agreements, a failed ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia reached in 2015. The talks, which were brokered by France and Germany, sought to end fighting in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
Sir Keir is understood to see his role as bringing US and Europe together to ensure a united approach to peace in Ukraine.
The UK prime minister will discuss the views of European leaders when he visits US President Trump at the White House at the end of this month.
A further meeting of European leaders together with Zelensky is expected after Sir Keir returns from Washington.
Sir Keir said the UK would "work to ensure we keep the US and Europe together", adding the two could not "allow any divisions in the alliance to distract" from "external enemies".
"This is a once in a generation moment for our national security where we engage with the reality of the world today and the threat we face from Russia," he said.
"It's clear Europe must take on a greater role in Nato as we work with the United States to secure Ukraine's future and face down the threat we face from Russia."
Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Emmanuel Macron had called the summit of European leaders, which has not yet been announced by the French president.
Sikorski said: "President Trump has a method of operating, which the Russians call reconnaissance through battle. You push and you see what happens, and then you change your position, legitimate tactics. And we need to respond."
Earlier on Saturday, Zelensky called for the creation of an "army of Europe" amid rising concern the US may no longer come to the continent's aid.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he said US Vice-President JD Vance's speech at the event had made it clear that the old relationship between Europe and America was "ending" and the continent "needs to adjust to that".
But Zelensky also said Ukraine would "never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement" after Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to start peace talks.
Earlier this week the US president announced he had a lengthy phone conversation with the Russian leader and that negotiations to stop the "ridiculous war" in Ukraine would begin "immediately".
Trump then "informed" Zelensky of his plan.
Trump appeared confident that his leadership style could pave the way for a peace deal in Ukraine.
His rapprochement with Putin brought to an end more than three years of silence between Moscow and Washington.
Trump's shock announcement rekindled memories of his meeting with Putin in Helsinki back in 2018.
Source: BBC
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