UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host a crucial summit of European and Canadian leaders in London today at 14:00 GMT, as Western allies seek to reinforce their support for Ukraine.
The meeting takes place against the backdrop of a tense exchange earlier this week between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, which has raised fresh concerns about the future of American assistance to Kyiv.
The summit will bring together key European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as well as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Heads of government from Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Czechia, and Romania will also be in attendance, alongside Turkey’s foreign minister.
Representing the wider Western alliance, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa are also participating, reflecting the EU and NATO’s role in coordinating military and financial assistance to Ukraine.
The meeting comes at a critical juncture for Ukraine, as its forces continue to face Russian advances on the battlefield while seeking reassurances that Western military aid will remain uninterrupted. The Trump-Zelensky confrontation in Washington has intensified speculation over whether the United States will continue its previous level of support, with Trump having made clear his preference for European nations to take on a larger share of the financial and military burden.
With that in mind, today’s discussions in London are expected to focus on European-led initiatives to sustain Ukraine’s war effort, including fresh military aid packages, economic assistance, and long-term security guarantees. The UK, France, and Germany are already working on a bilateral security framework for Ukraine, and further commitments could be announced following the summit.
The meeting also marks a significant test for Keir Starmer, as he seeks to assert the UK’s leadership in European security policy while navigating evolving transatlantic dynamics under Trump’s presidency.
Further details are expected to emerge later today, with a joint statement likely to outline specific pledges on military aid and financial support for Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction.
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