What Exactly Can The UK PM Offer Trump in Peace Agreement in Ukraine?
On February 27, 2025, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Washington, D.C., where he met with U.S. President Donald Trump. The discussion focused not only on bilateral relations but also on a common vision of the future of the war in Ukraine. That visit followed another visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, who arrived in the United States with a similar agenda: European security and a joint peacekeeping plan for Ukraine.
With the Trump administration sending highly contradictory signals about its support for Euro-Atlantic unity, European leaders are trying to strengthen transatlantic cooperation. The UK and France are trying to show that a stable peace in Europe is impossible without their participation and to convince Trump to support their initiative.
Key Emphases of the European Summit
The European summit held on March 2, 2025, demonstrated the determination of European leaders to support Ukraine and outlined the contours of the future peace process (from the point of view of Europeans). The summit participants emphasized the need to develop sustainable security guarantees to ensure lasting peace in Europe.
The March 2, 2025, summit was an important milestone in shaping the European approach to ending the war. EU leaders clarified that support for Ukraine remains their priority and that any peaceful settlement must be based on international law, security, and sovereignty principles.
Following the meeting, Emmanuel Macron announced a joint initiative with Kier Starmer to introduce a one-month ceasefire covering Ukraine's air, sea and energy infrastructure. He emphasized that a complete ceasefire is difficult to monitor due to the long front line length, so a limited truce could be the first step toward de-escalating the conflict. Macron also noted that deploying European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine is possible only after a peace agreement is reached and is not planned in the coming weeks.
Also, Keir Starmer announced the creation of a “coalition of the willing” to support Ukraine and ensure a lasting peace. He said several countries have expressed a desire to join this plan, which was developed jointly by the UK, France, and Ukraine. Starmer emphasized that each country should contribute in the best way it can, providing different capabilities and support, but all take responsibility to act and share the burden. He also noted that any agreement must be backed by force to avoid situations where Russia violates the cessation of hostilities, as it has been the case in the past.
At the moment, France and the UK’s peacekeeping plan may include creating an international peacekeeping mission, including military contingents from European countries, to maintain stability in Ukraine after the cessation of hostilities.
Possible Proposals from the UK and France, Based on their Experience
It should be noted that the UK and France have extensive experience in international peacekeeping operations, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. Therefore, they can offer:
- Sending peacekeeping contingents (estimated at up to 30,000 troops, including British and French soldiers).
- Establishment of joint military bases on the territory of Ukraine to guarantee NATO's presence in the region.
- Deployment of advanced air and missile defense systems to protect key Ukrainian cities.
These measures could be an effective deterrent, but their implementation requires Washington's consent.
Also, since the UK and France are nuclear powers, they could use their arsenal to deter Russia. Among the possible steps could be guarantees to extend nuclear protection to Ukraine, which could make any Russian aggression more risky.
The peace initiatives of the leading European states are ambitious, but their implementation will face numerous challenges. First, the U.S. Administration seems to have its view on the end of the war in Ukraine, which does not provide any specific security guarantees. Secretary of State M. Rubio, in particular, expressed this position, saying there should be a ceasefire first, and only then should any security guarantees be discussed.
At the same time, the dialogue between the Western powers continues, and their American partners may approve the proposals from the UK and France if they perceive these ideas as concrete, effective, and realistic.
The visits of Kier Starmer and Emmanuel Macron to the United States were important diplomatic events that could affect the future of European security. The UK and France offer a realistic, if difficult to implement, plan to stabilize Ukraine. However, its success depends to a large extent on the position of the United States. If the Trump administration supports its European allies, the chances of creating an effective security mechanism for Ukraine will increase significantly.
Petro Oleshchuk is an expert at the Kyiv-based United Ukraine Think Tank