By Janet Ekstract, ISTANBUL- On Sunday, London’s Prime Minster Keir Starmer will host EU leaders and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at a special summit on Ukraine and security. Starmer, who met U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week to discuss the role that Western allies could have in securing a lasting peace in Ukraine – warmly welcomed Zelensky to the UK, reiterating his nation’s support. The decision to hold the summit came after Zelensky met Trump at the White House and was met with scorn from Trump and Vice President JD Vance because he refused to sign a potential, minerals deal without security guarantees for Ukraine. The Trump-Zelensky confrontation in front of the press received immediate responses from a number of corners. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, speaking to the press, was quick to condemn Zelensky and place blame on him for the confrontation. Interviewed by the BBC on March 1, Anthony Gardner a former ambassador to Ukraine under the Biden administration in 2014, labeled Trump and Vance’s behavior a “fiasco” and a “spectacle” that he said Zelensky should never have been subjected to. Gardner, referring to Trump’s White House said, “It’s time for European leaders and Starmer to realize that this administration wants to destroy the European Union.” He added that the reception that Zelensky received and the ire he experienced from Trump and Vance “never occurred under any previous Republican president at all.”
Meanwhile, other world leaders weighed in on Zelensky’s meeting with Trump and JD Vance at the White House. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told the press: “Last night, underlying that a new era of profanity has begun. A heinous time, in which we must defend the rules-based international order and the strength of the law more than ever – against the might of the strongest because otherwise, no free country can sleep peacefully anymore, which has a stronger neighbor.” On social media, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, “Dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone,” while Germany’s likely future chancellor Friedrich Merz said, “Dear Volodymyr, we stand with Ukraine in good and testing times. We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war.”
In addition to a host of other nations, Turkiye was invited to participate in the summit where Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is expected to reiterate Turkiye’s willingness to host future negotiations between Ukraine and Russia as it did in March 2022. According to diplomatic sources, Fidan will tell EU leaders about Turkiye’s efforts to secure a “fair and lasting peace” in Ukraine as well as stress his country’s commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Fidan will reiterate the need for all parties ro focus on long-term regional security and that Turkiye welcomes the U.S. initiative to end the war. Sources indicated that Turkiye could consider sending its military to Ukraine on a peacekeeping mission only if it’s involved in all consultations and preparations for such a mission. Fidan will underscore the readiness of Turkish companies to help rebuild Ukraine and that Turkiye has already submitted restoration projects for 2025. Fidan is expected to emphasize Ukraine’s security, stability and economic prosperity as vital to the region and the EU. Turkiye made it clear before, that any peace talks must include Ukraine as well as Russia, since Turkiye has maintained good ties with both Ukraine and Russia, some leaders think it may be an ideal location for future negotiations.
Sunday’s summit will include a host of leaders from other EU nations that include France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Czechia and Romania. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte as well as EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa are expected to attend the summit.
