The leaders of Britain and France are spearheading a desperate diplomatic drive to shore up Europe’s security, bolster Ukraine’s defenses and ensure the Trump administration doesn’t seek a ceasefire on terms that reward Moscow for invading its neighbor.

Prime Minister Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are pushing for a ‘Europe Plus’ coalition to protect Ukraine in the event of a peace deal. It comes after US leader Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky locked horns over the war with Trump doubling down on his demand of Ukraine to ‘cut a deal or we’re out’.

European leaders met in London to form a plan to help end the war in Ukraine. But even potential peacekeepers face political and economic hurdles.