European leaders will meet in London on Sunday to discuss defence and security issues, including deployment of troops to Ukraine after the prospective cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine, aiming to prevent further Russian aggression.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the meeting on Wednesday. Tusk said the European Commission is preparing a defense package, details of which will be announced at the special summit of European Union leaders scheduled for March 6. We will be in London on Sunday, together with our British friends and a group of leaders, to talk about these joint plans on defense," he added.
"I hope that this greater mobilization of Europe, both member states and Europe as a whole, when it comes to defense and security funding, will become an unequivocal fact," said Tuska after a meeting with European Council President António Costa.
The meeting follows the meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump on Monday. UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also meet Trump in White on Thursday amid the deepening gap between London and Washington over Ukraine’s future. Trump sent shockwaves to Europe last week while accusing Ukraine of starting the war and calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy a dictator. Trump’s clear pro-Russia stance and his shift of policy of Ukraine have raised fears that he plans to sign a deal with Russia and then impose it on Kyiv.
Amid Trump’s siding with Putin, Britain and France are drawing up plans for a European “reassurance force,” that might include up to 30,000 troops to be deployed to Ukraine in the event of a possible peace deal.
