Sir Keir Starmer and other European leaders set themselves on a collision course with Donald Trump last night after rejecting the US President’s peace plan to end the war in Ukraine.
They said the proposals, which critics claim blatantly favour Russia, would leave Ukraine ‘vulnerable to attack’ and could not be accepted in their current form.
Under the White House-Kremlin plan, Ukraine would cede territory its troops have defended since February 2022, including the Donbas region in the east, and slash the size of its military. Sanctions against Russia would be lifted and, crucially for Vladimir Putin, the country would be ‘reintegrated into the global economy’.
As part of Mr Trump’s plan, no Nato troops would be stationed in Ukraine, foreign fighter jets would only be allowed to be based in Poland, Ukraine would be limited to 600,000 troops – a cut of 25 per cent – and it would be banned from having long-range weapons that could reach Russia.
Sir Keir, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz were among the leaders who issued a joint statement at the G20 summit in South Africa, insisting the US President cannot make demands relating to Nato and the EU without their consent, adding that ‘borders cannot be changed by force’.
Sir Keir told reporters he was worried about the plans to cap the size of the Ukrainian military, adding: ‘We are concerned about that because it’s fundamental that Ukraine has to be able to defend itself if there’s a ceasefire.’
Critics have called the proposals a betrayal of Ukraine, with former prime minister Boris Johnson saying the 28-point plan amounted to ‘military castration’.
Former Royal Anglian Regiment soldier Shaun Pinner, who fought for Ukraine against Russian forces at Mariupol, called the plan ‘surrender dressed up as diplomacy’. He added: ‘It’s repugnant. I’m sick with anger.’
Sir Keir Starmer and other European leaders set themselves on a collision course with Donald Trump last night after rejecting the US President’s peace plan to end the war in Ukraine. Pictured left to right: European Council President Antonio Costa, Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Finnish President Alexander Stubb
Sir Keir spoke to Mr Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky last night, and may try to act as a bridge between Europe and the US in building the proposals into a more suitable plan.
Mr Zelensky said: ‘We had a long conversation and covered many nuances of diplomatic work in planning the peace process.
‘Co-ordination will continue, and I am grateful to the British society for their support.’
In a phone call to Mr Trump, Mr Merz said he made it clear that Europe must be part of any process to end the war. He added: ‘If Ukraine loses this war and possibly collapses, it will have an impact on European politics as a whole, on the entire European continent – and that is why we are so committed to this issue.’
Asked yesterday whether the plan was his final offer to end the war, Mr Trump said: ‘No, not my final offer. We’d like to get to peace. It should’ve happened a long time ago. One way or the other, we have to get it ended.’
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said: ‘No deal is perfect, but it must be done sooner rather than later.’
US officials have told Nato allies they will push Mr Zelensky into agreeing to the deal by threatening that if he does not sign, he will face a much worse deal in future. Mr Trump has given him until Thursday to make up his mind.
Delegates from Kyiv will hold talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Geneva, Switzerland, today, along with officials from Britain and Europe.
Mr Zelensky said he would work around the clock to find a path, but would not betray his country.
Sir Keir said the focus was now on Geneva, adding: ‘We need to see how far we get with that.’
As part of Mr Trump’s plan, no Nato troops would be stationed in Ukraine, and the country would have to cede territory its troops have defended since February 2022
Mr Zelensky said he would work around the clock to find a path to peace, but would not betray his country in any final settlement
No 10 said: ‘We want a ceasefire and we have been pushing for that.’ But it insisted: ‘There can be no let-up in support for Ukraine.’
US Vice-President JD Vance hit back at critics of the deal, saying peace ‘won’t be made by failed diplomats or politicians living in a fantasy land’ but by ‘smart people living in the real world’.
He insisted the White House’s approach was rooted in pragmatic diplomacy rather than unrealistic expectations, adding: ‘Every criticism of the peace framework… either misunderstands the framework or mis-states some critical reality on the ground. There is a fantasy that if we just give more money, more weapons, or more sanctions, victory is at hand.’
Sir Keir’s spokesman denied Britain had been cut out of Mr Trump’s peace negotiations, and highlighted the ‘excellent relationship’ between the leaders.
