‘Cool head’ approach defines UK Starmer’s balancing act over Ukraine
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has played up his role as go-between over Ukraine.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON - “Cool heads” is the mantra of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he tries to heal a rapidly growing rift between the United States, Europe and Ukraine.
Mr Starmer, who has played up his role as go-between over Ukraine, faces a diplomatic balancing act to keep both Europe and US President Donald Trump on side and protect Britain from US tariffs that would damage his country’s strained finances.
He has formed an unexpected alliance with French President Emmanuel Macron, a sharp critic of Britain’s departure from the European Union, and a solid relationship with Mr Trump, who UK officials say likes Mr Starmer’s lack of pretension.
“You are a very tough negotiator... I’m not sure I like that, but okay,” Mr Trump told Mr Starmer at a press conference after they met at the White House on Feb 27.
Mr Starmer had earned his salary with his efforts to end the threat of US tariffs,
Since Mr Trump upended Washington’s supportive approach to Ukraine earlier in 2025, Mr Starmer has helped to defend Kyiv’s position while not offending the US leader, who wants a swift peace deal, with or without President Volodymyr Zelensky.
After convening talks with European leaders in London on March 2, Mr Starmer said Britain, France and others would work on a proposed peace deal
He and Mr Macron hope their leadership can help them rescue their reputations at home and cement European security as Germany recovers from months of domestic political uncertainty.
But Mr Starmer’s announcement did not say which other nations would offer peacekeepers or step up weapons deliveries quickly.
Some countries have reservations about sending troops – Poland, which a person familiar with national security said was coming under “significant pressure” to send its forces to Ukraine, says no decision will be made before elections in May.
Britain is still hopeful of getting others on board, but time is of the essence, with Mr Trump ramping up the pressure by pausing the delivery of military support to Ukraine.
Mr Starmer urged nations on March 2 “to keep the pace behind these actions”, adding “this is not a moment for more talk – It is time to act”.
‘Time for cool heads’
A trained lawyer sometimes criticised for a lack of humour, Mr Starmer’s dispassionate and methodical approach at the White House talks and subsequent meetings in London with Mr Zelensky and European leaders at the weekend, has been widely praised.
“This weekend, he has not really put a foot wrong,” former foreign minister James Cleverly from the opposition Conservative Party told Parliament on March 3.
While Mr Starmer has yet to win US security guarantees for Ukraine, he has worked to repair the unprecedented rift in US-Ukraine relations encapsulated by the heated exchange between Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump
A British source said Mr Starmer has been advising Mr Zelensky on what would close the gap with Mr Trump. The Ukrainian leader wrote to Mr Trump on March 4 saying he was ready to negotiate. Mr Starmer called Mr Zelensky earlier that day, praising his commitment to securing peace.
It was the surprise phone call between Mr Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin
“Time for cool heads,” said a government source at the time, using a phrase that officials repeat.
That prompted a meeting with Mr Trump’‘s special envoy to the United Kingdom, Mr Mark Burnett, a day later when the US president called in – the first of five phone conversations and one meeting with the US leader since.
Those conversations have been interspersed with calls with Mr Zelensky and Mr Macron, a relationship described by one British official as being presented to Mr Trump as so close he “couldn’t get ‘a cigarette paper’ between them”.
‘Prince of darkness’
Mr Starmer’s team said the British leader had made some progress with Mr Trump, citing the US leader reiterating Washington’s commitment to Nato’s Article 5, which states that if a member country is attacked, all members will consider it an attack on themselves.
Despite the setbacks, Mr Starmer is ploughing on with drafting a peace plan, while his newly appointed ambassador to the US, veteran Labour troubleshooter Peter Mandelson, keeps the Trump administration on side.
Mr Mandelson, dubbed the Prince of Darkness by the British media for his negotiating skills behind the scenes, suggested on US television on March 2 that Mr Zelensky back the mineral deal with the United States and get “back on the same page” as Mr Trump.
Mr Starmer is betting that if European countries can come back with pledges to increase defence spending and a plan to ensure the security of Ukraine, Mr Trump will offer US security backup, something he says is vital to deter Mr Putin from attacking again.
Mr Tobias Ellwood, a Conservative former lawmaker who has chaired the parliamentary committee on defence, said it was important to get the balance right and prepare to work without Washington if necessary.
“In the same way that Trump respects bullies who stand up to him, we must stand firm in what we believe in,” he told Reuters.
Addressing top ministers on March 4, Mr Starmer said of his seven days of shuttle diplomacy that “everyone was aligned in pursuit of a plan that will bring lasting and durable peace to Ukraine”.
He told ministers, according to his spokesperson, “he would continue to have conversations at pace”. REUTERS
