The gathering at Lancaster House in London on 2 March had been arranged before the clashes between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky, in the Oval Office, but it gained added significance because of them. With so much in the air, as new opportunities open up while others close down, it is hard to be sure of its long-term significance. But it felt historic.
For years European states have discussed a possible moment when they will depend far less, or even not at all, on the United States for their security. Some have viewed this prospect with enthusiasm; others with apprehension. None have prepared for it.
- to keep military aid flowing into Ukraine, and to keep increasing the economic pressure on Russia
- that any lasting peace must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and security and Ukraine must be present at any peace talks
- in the event of a peace deal, to boost Ukraine’s defensive capabilities to deter any future invasion
- to develop a “coalition of the willing” to defend a deal in Ukraine and to guarantee peace afterwards.
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