**Starmer Proposes Coalition to Secure Permanent Peace for Ukraine**

Following a summit of European leaders, the UK unveils a robust four-point plan aimed at guaranteeing Ukraine's security and sovereignty in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

In a pivotal address following a significant summit, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a comprehensive four-point plan aimed at reinforcing Ukraine's defenses and establishing a permanent peace settlement amid ongoing tensions with Russia. Labeling the current phase as a "coalition of the willing," Starmer emphasized the collaborative efforts needed from the UK, France, and other allied nations to support Ukraine.

After the gathering of 18 leaders, which included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Starmer highlighted the urgency of their discussion. He voiced that the meeting demonstrated "European unity at an extremely high level not seen for a long time." This summit occurs in the wake of a contentious interaction between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, where tensions regarding support for Ukraine were laid bare.

Starmer outlined four key commitments reached during the summit: maintaining and increasing military assistance to Ukraine, ensuring any peace agreement safeguards Ukraine's sovereignty and security, involving Ukraine in any peace negotiations, and forming a coalition to uphold the peace agreement.

To underscore the UK's determination, Starmer announced an additional £1.6 billion ($2 billion) in export finance directed toward procuring over 5,000 air defense missiles, supplementing a previous £2.2 billion military aid loan derived from profits linked to seized Russian assets. Starmer stressed that previous errors in dealing with Russia must be avoided, asserting the need for robust agreements that cannot be easily breached.

While the specific nations participating in this new coalition were not disclosed, Starmer indicated that those involved would engage in urgent planning discussions. He declared the UK's commitment to this coalition would extend to deploying military personnel and assets.

Stressing Europe's responsibility in this effort, Starmer called for the United States’ support while cautioning that Russia must not dictate the terms of any agreement. He acknowledged the significance of working alongside Trump to pursue durable peace but refrained from labeling the US an unreliable ally.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the pressing need to bolster Europe’s military capabilities, a sentiment echoed by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Post-summit, Zelensky made a visit to King Charles III and expressed readiness to finalize a deal granting the US access to Ukraine’s mineral resources, although tension remained high regarding the trajectory of US-Ukraine relations.

Despite tumultuous diplomatic challenges, Zelensky expressed optimism about reaching an agreement contingent upon alignment among the negotiating parties. This meeting comes amidst an escalating backdrop of peace discussions in the US, which have seen Ukrainian interests sidelined, leading to calls for clearer commitments and a unified front among European allies.