On Sunday, March 2, London will host a meeting of more than ten European leaders who will discuss the war in Ukraine and security in Europe. Despite the importance of the event, Bulgaria is again not among the invited countries - as was the case at a previous meeting organized by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. However, at a subsequent similar gathering, the Bulgarian Prime Minister joined online.
According to the office of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the leaders of France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Romania and Turkey will arrive in London. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa are also expected to attend, the BBC reports.
Before the forum itself, Starmer will hold a video conference call with the countries of the Baltic region. He will then meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who will arrive from Washington after talks with US President Donald Trump. The main topic of the meeting will be achieving a “just and lasting peace that guarantees the sovereignty and security of Ukraine“.
In addition, before the start of the main discussion, the British Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The London forum will be the first official meeting of European leaders since Macron and Starmer held consultations with Trump at the White House. The talks come amid renewed signals from Washington that Europe must take responsibility for its own security, after Trump made it clear he had no intention of providing guarantees for Ukraine.