European leaders closed ranks Sunday in support of Kyiv at a London summit, where they pledged to spend more on security and assemble a coalition to defend any truce in Ukraine.Bringing together 18 allies, the talks were devoted to the key questions of how to provide security guarantees for Ukraine and bolster Europe's future defences while keeping the United States under President Donald Trump onside.Just days after a thunderous row between Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky raised fresh questions over the US leader's commitment to Ukraine and Nato, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that Europe found itself ‘at a crossroads in history’.’This is not a moment for more talk — it's time to act. It's time to step up and lead and unite around a new plan for a just and enduring peace,’ the premier added.With no guarantee of US involvement, ‘Europe must do the heavy lifting’ in securing peace in Ukraine, Starmer said, indicating that several countries were ready to help defend any truce.Zelensky was warmly embraced by many of the summit's attendees, including Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Nato chief Mark Rutte, while protesters rallied outside the UK leader's home in support of Ukraine.That welcome stood in stark contrast to Zelensky's treatment in the White House on Friday, where he was berated by Trump for not being grateful enough for US aid and not being ‘ready’ for peace with Russia.After the leaders gathered Sunday, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen warned that ‘we urgently have to rearm Europe’ and ‘prepare for the worst’ on the continent.Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk meanwhile called for the United States and Europe to ‘speak with one voice’ in showing Putin ‘that the West has no intention of capitulating before his blackmail and aggression’.Starmer and France's President Emmanuel Macron have said they are prepared to deploy British and French troops to Ukraine to help preserve the peace in the event an agreement is signed to end the war.More European countries will increase defence spending and the United States remains committed to Nato, Rutte said.’It was very good news that more European countries will ramp up defence spending,’ Rutte said of the meeting, adding that the US was committed to Nato despite frequent criticism by President Donald Trump.Von der Leyen said she would present a ‘comprehensive plan’ at an EU summit on Thursday, adding that ‘we have to have a surge in defence’ and ‘step up massively’.’It's now of utmost importance we increase spending … it's important we prepare for the worst,’ she added.The leaders had a ‘good and frank discussion’ and talked about the need for security guarantees, said the EU chief.Addressing US President Donald Trump, she said: ‘We're ready together with you to defend democracy, to defend the principle that there's a rule of law, that you cannot invade your neighbour and bully your neighbour, or you cannot change borders with force’.’It's in our common interest that we prevent future wars,’ she added.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a new $2bn deal which would allow Ukraine to purchase 5,000 air-defence missiles using export finance.Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said all leaders at the London summit wanted Europe – US relations to be as strong as possible.Tusk called for unity between Europe and the United States on Ukraine, saying he hoped an EU summit this week would show Russia that the West ‘has no intention of capitulating’.’Everything must be done to ensure that Europe and the United States speak with one voice,’ he said. The upcoming summit should send a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘that the West has no intention of capitulating before his blackmail and aggression’.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that a halt in fighting could be a starting point for potential peace talks for Ukraine.’It would be very helpful if the bombing were to stop…That would also be the starting point for talks that can then continue,’ Scholz told journalists after a meeting of European leaders in London.He said that a focus for allies will be to ensure that Ukraine has a strong army when the war there is over so that it can defend itself against any future aggression.’The basis of everything will be a strong army,’ Scholz said.US Republicans suggest Zelensky has to step downTop Washington officials suggested Sunday that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky might have to step down if a peace deal is to be reached, underscoring President Donald Trump's stunning shift in approach to the war with Russia. ‘We need a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians, and end this war,’ National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told CNN. ‘And if it becomes apparent that President Zelensky's either personal motivations or political motivations are divergent from ending the fighting in this country, then I think we have a real issue.’
