Global Leaders Convene in London to Advocate for Ukraine Peace Initiative

London, March 2 (NationPress) Global leaders, comprising over a dozen European heads of state and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, convened in London on Sunday for a defense summit aimed at promoting a peace initiative for Ukraine after a week of intense diplomatic discussions.

The summit, organized by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, emphasizes enhancing Ukraine's standing through ongoing military assistance and increased economic sanctions on Russia. The agenda will also cover the necessity for a robust, enduring agreement that secures a permanent peace in Ukraine and empowers the nation to deter and defend against future Russian aggressions.

Attendees include the leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Czechia, and Romania, alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and the Presidents of the European Commission and European Council, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is also present.

The leaders are anticipated to outline forthcoming actions to strengthen European security guarantees, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

"In collaboration with our allies, we must enhance our preparations for the European aspect of security guarantees, while continuing discussions with the US," Starmer remarked in a statement prior to the summit, stressing that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has now reached a pivotal moment.

This summit occurs amidst diplomatic strains, as a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at the White House devolved into a contentious dialogue, resulting in the cancellation of a projected raw materials agreement between the two nations.

On Saturday, Zelensky met with Starmer at 10 Downing Street, where the British Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK's steadfast commitment to securing lasting peace in Ukraine.

Following their meeting, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko declared that Britain and Ukraine had reached an agreement on a loan of 2.26 billion pounds ($2.84 billion) to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities. (1 pound = 1.26 US dollar)

Europe has been on edge since Trump initiated direct peace discussions with Putin, who had been marginalized by most Western leaders since his invasion of Ukraine three years ago. The rush to maintain relevance and safeguard European interests as their once-stalwart ally appeared to be aligning with Putin became even more concerning when Trump labeled Zelensky a dictator and falsely claimed Ukraine instigated the war.