Keir Starmer Ignites Diplomatic Storm After Snubbing Three Nations from Ukraine Summit”
Three Baltic countries Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are reportedly unhappy about being left out of a major European summit on Ukraine. The meeting, hosted by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street on Sunday, will bring together key European leaders to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine.
A diplomatic source told Sky News that Russia would likely take note of the exclusion of the three NATO members, which have been among Ukraine’s strongest supporters since the war began in February 2022.
Given their history as former Soviet states and their border proximity to Russia, their absence raises concerns about European unity in the face of Russian aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already arrived in the UK ahead of the meeting.
He will be joined by leaders such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, European Council President António Costa, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The summit follows a public clash between Zelensky and former U.S.
President Donald Trump at the White House, where Trump accused Zelensky of “gambling with World War Three” and criticized him for not showing enough gratitude for American financial aid. The tense exchange led to the cancellation of a minerals deal between the US and Ukraine, which could have strengthened Washington’s economic ties with Kyiv.
The fallout from the meeting has raised concerns among European leaders, who are now scrambling to ensure continued support for Ukraine amid growing uncertainty about the US’s commitment. European leaders will discuss ways to sustain military and economic aid for Ukraine, including the possibility of deploying an international “reassurance force” to help secure a ceasefire.
The meeting will also address broader European security concerns, given Trump’s repeated criticisms of US military spending and his calls for Europe to take on more responsibility for its own defense.
The exclusion of the Baltic states has added to the uncertainty, with a diplomatic source warning that Russia and their people may see this as a betrayal, not just by the US, but also by the UK and France.
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to call the leaders of the Baltic states to discuss their concerns, but sources suggest this is a poor substitute for their direct participation. With Trump’s friendly stance toward Putin and doubts over continued US backing for Ukraine, European leaders are under pressure to present a united front.
However, divisions within Europe—highlighted by the exclusion of the Baltic states—could weaken efforts to deter Russia and secure long-term peace for Ukraine.
