Sir Keir Starmer was the primary chief to reach at this assembly in Paris, strolling down the street from the British Embassy.
When he emerged, after three hours of dialogue, he appeared sombre.
Sir Keir, like the opposite political heavyweights who got here to the Elysee Palace, is aware of that Europe has been battered and marginalised over the previous week or so by the actions and rhetoric which have come out of Washington.
Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron in Paris: Pic: Quantity 10/Flickr
So this assembly was, to an extent, about political leaders reasserting themselves.
However once we spoke, it was clear that it was additionally about laying down a line.
Not a lot about what a peace deal for Ukraine may appear to be, however how it could be policed.
Ukrainian troops within the within the Donetsk area. Pic: Reuters
European leaders on the safety summit in Paris. Pic: Quantity 10/Flickr
The prime minister stated he was ready to deploy British troops on the bottom however was emphatic that the US must provide what he called a “backstop”.
He did not elaborate on precisely what this could imply, but it surely’s clear that he is speaking about America committing its army muscle to safe Ukraine’s future.
“A long-lasting peace”, because the prime minister insists, somewhat than a ceasefire that, European leaders imagine, will merely enable Vladimir Putin to regroup his forces and launch one other offensive.
Sir Keir is making an attempt to flex some diplomatic muscular tissues – putting a extra strident tone than, say, Olaf Scholz, the surely-soon-to-be former chancellor of Germany, whereas additionally promising to go to Washington subsequent week for talks with Donald Trump, after which reporting again to European leaders.
It’s, one suspects, a uncommon probability for Sir Keir to take a management position in post-Brexit Europe, and it is one he desires to take.
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However the greater worry for Europeans could also be that America and Russia do not wish to discuss to one another about simply Ukraine – but in addition commerce offers, geopolitical agreements, and potential land carve-ups.
If Donald Trump actually does see America’s future within the stark phrases of a transactional deal-maker, he might have extra in widespread with Putin than he does with most European leaders.
And that may appear to be a brand new world order.
