• Starmer warns European security facing ‘once-in-a-generation moment’
• Republican officials question if peace is possible as long as Ukrainian leader remains in power

LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday warned that European security faced a once-in-a-generation moment, as he hosted crisis talks in London on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, just days after a Kyiv-Washington clash.

Eighteen allies were gathered on the key question of security guarantees for Ukraine, all the more pressing after US President Donald Trump berated his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in an unprecedented White House blow-up.

Sitting next to Zelensky in front of the flags of Ukraine and European nations, summit host Starmer said it was “a once-in-a-generation moment for the security of Europe and we all need to step up”.

“I hope you know that we are all with you and the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes. Everyone around this table,” he told the Ukrainian leader.

Zelensky was embraced by some of the 18 other top leaders, 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.

It was a stark contrast to Zelensky’s unusually heated Friday meeting with Trump in Washington, where he was berated by the American leader and accused of not being “ready” for peace with Russia.

‘Avoid dividing West’

Speaking ahead of the summit in London, Starmer said “nobody wants to see” scenes like Oval Office clash.

“We have to find a way that we can all work together. Because, in the end, we’ve had three years of bloody conflict. Now we need to get to that lasting peace,” Starmer told the BBC.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni echoed the sentiment, saying as she met Starmer in his Downing Street home that it was “very, very important that we avoid the risk that the West divides”.

While Ukraine’s allies have been underscoring their steadfast commitment to counter growing concerns that Trump is about to sell Kyiv short in negotiations with Russia, top Washington officials suggested on Sunday that Zelensky might have to step down if a peace deal is to be reached.

“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.”

While European leaders have rallied around Ukraine, Republican officials appeared on news programmes questioning whether any deal could be reached with Russia so long as Zelensky remains.

“Either he needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude, or someone else needs to lead the country to do that,” said Republican Mike Johnson, speaker of the House of Representatives.

“I mean, it’s up to the Ukrainians to figure that out, but... we need President Zelensky to do what is necessary.”

Senior Democrats say Trump has come dangerously close to an all-out embrace of Russia. “The White House has become an arm of the Kremlin,” said Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat who has emerged as one of Trump’s most outspoken critics. “It appears America is trying to align itself with dictators,” he said on CNN.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted, however, that the White House was clear-eyed about Putin’s Russia. “No one here is claiming Vladimir Putin is going to get the Nobel Peace prize this year,” he said on ABC.

Rubio added, however, that the first step in securing peace is to get the parties to talk together. “You cannot end a war unless both sides come to the table,” he said.

“I’m not promising you it’s possible,” he added. “I’m not telling you it’s 90 per cent likely. I’m saying it’s zero per cent likely if we don’t get them to a negotiating table.”

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2025