INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday European leaders had agreed to draw up a Ukraine peace plan to present to the United
States, a vital step for Washington to be able to offer security guarantees that Kyiv says are essential to deter Russia.At a summit in
London just two days after Volodymyr Zelenskiy clashed with U.S
President Donald Trump and cut short a visit to Washington, European leaders offered a strong show of support to the Ukrainian president and
promised to do more to help his nation.European leaders agreed they must spend more on defence to show Trump the continent can protect
itself, and the European Commission chief suggested the bloc could ease rules that limit debt levels.Starmer, who welcomed a visibly shaken
Before the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron told newspaper Le Figaro that the plan would involve a one-month ceasefire that would
apply to air and sea attacks but not to ground combat.European troops would be deployed if a more substantial peace agreement was reached,
It was not clear whether other nations had agreed to the terms.Zelenskiy told reporters that Ukraine would not cede any territory to Russia
as part of a peace agreement and said he was still willing to sign a minerals deal with the United States.Zelenskiy said he believed he
ensure that Kyiv is not squeezed out of any talks after the Oval Office clash raised fears that the U.S
could pull support for Ukraine and impose a peace plan negotiated with Russia.Several European leaders said they must increase defence
spending - something that could help bring Trump on side to offer a U.S
the weaponry and depth of ammunition stocks of the U.S., hopes to convince Trump that it can defend itself but that Russia will only adhere
to a peace deal if it comes with the backing of the United States.Talks with the U.S
have centred on Washington providing a so-called backstop for a European peacekeeping role, possibly in the form of air cover, intelligence
and surveillance and a greater but unspecified threat if Russian President Vladimir Putin again sought to take more territory.Crucial to
getting any agreement from Trump is for European nations to increase defence spending and signal they would take part in any peacekeeping
Washington last week, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said some European leaders had privately set out new plans on defence spending
policy on the three-year-old war since he returned to the White House in January, casting doubt on U.S
military and political support for Ukraine - and Europe - and ending the isolation of Moscow.Trump had blindsided Europe by calling Putin
without warning and sending a delegation to Saudi Arabia for talks with Russia without including Ukraine or Europe
Trump has falsely suggested that Kyiv was responsible for starting the war, and on Friday, he criticised Zelenskiy for not being grateful
continue to offer support to Ukraine after cordial visits to Washington by Macron and Starmer.Starmer described watching the spat between
Zelenskiy and Trump in the Oval Office as uncomfortable viewing, but he was keen to push the conversation forward by offering himself as a
go-between for Europe and the United States.In a further show of support for the Ukrainian leader, Zelenskiy later on Sunday flew to meet
King Charles at his private residence in eastern England.The Trump administration on Sunday continued to criticise Zelenskiy
White House national security adviser Mike Waltz told CNN that the U.S
needs a Ukrainian leader who is willing to secure a lasting peace with Russia, but that it is not clear Zelenskiy is prepared to do
but to support peace in our continent and to succeed, this effort must have strong U.S
