Was Starmer’s summit enough to shift the diplomatic dial?

Perhaps Lancaster House had bathed in the sun while European leaders gathered to draw a road forward to Ukraine.

But there was a cloud hanging over the top in the bone with the gilded edges of the former royal house in central London.

It came in the form of a question – was everything worth it? Was this gathering of European powers enough to change the diplomatic phone? Or is the United States thinking about its own mind when finding a ceasefire in Ukraine?

The Prime Minister’s answer was largely that Europe is still playing its role. He said that the United Kingdom, France and others will work with Ukraine A plan to stop the fighting, then discuss this plan with the United States.

He said that Europe will retain military aid that is now flowing, and in the event of a peace deal, it will enhance the defensive capabilities of Ukraine, and to adopt the “armed forces and border defenses in the country” to ensure that “Ukraine can rely on ammunition, financing and equipment to defend itself,” according to the official conclusions of the summit.

Sir Kiir said that there will be a “alliance from those who wish” to defend Ukraine and ensure peace.

Who or what would have been clear is not yet clear. The Prime Minister only said that there will be “a force consisting of European partners and others.”

The United Kingdom and France have already said they are ready to put shoes on the ground in Ukraine to help deter the Russian aggression.

The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Layen, said that the goal is to convert Ukraine into “a solid porridge that cannot be digested for potential invaders.”

The goal, apparently, is to strengthen the European offer for post -war security guarantees for Ukraine in an attempt to persuade Donald Trump to promise an American military background.

The president has so far been hesitant to walk in this way, indicating that the presence of US mining companies on the ground in Ukraine will be sufficient to maintain peace.

Mr. Kiir does not participate, saying, “To support peace on our continent and success, this effort must have our support.”

This summit was in many ways attempt by Europe to take some ownership of diplomacy. In recent weeks, efforts to end the fighting in Ukraine have led Trump talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin and in his Ukrainian counterpart Voludmir Zelinsky.

The Europeans also wanted to find ways to reform the via Atlantic alliance, which seemed fragile after the confrontation between Trump and Zelinski at the Oval Office on Friday.

In recent weeks, the American administration has gone after its European allies; The interrogation of their democracy, and voting against them at the United Nations – in the form of the head of the main port, Elon Musk – saying that even the United States should leave the NATO military alliance.

The summit in London was an attempt by the Prime Minister alike to calm diplomatic eyebrows and strong diplomatic defects. Diplomats said there is a clear determination about the table to support Ukraine, but also to build on Trump’s desire to find a ceasefire.

But the escalation of Europe is only half of the story and depends a lot on whether the United States is ready to play its role.

Diplomats say the United States is ready to abolish tension tensions with Zelinski, but there were mixed messages on Sunday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said America was ready to interact with Ukraine, but National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has suggested that Zelinski might have to resign as part of any ceasefire.

So the result of the Lancaster House summit apparently was a unified European front in Zelinski’s support, with a promise of more military support for Ukraine.

But the dusty cloud in the sky of London remains what the United States is doing after that. This is not yet clear. Trump and his deputy made their Crashing towards Zelinski as clear as their confidence in Putin.