On Sunday, June 7th, world leaders from the United Kingdom, Ukraine, France, and Germany held a joint meeting in London to discuss Russia’s ballistic missiles. Russia’s missiles have gotten stronger, and the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile, which was utilized in combat recently, was the main topic of discussion. The meeting was hosted by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and attended by Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.  

This meeting emphasized the need for the defense of Ukraine against Russia, especially considering Russia’s non-desire to have an in-person talk with Zelensky. According to The Guardian, Russia rejected Zelensky’s proposal for face-to-face talks, believing there was “no point” in them. With Russia’s refusal to find peace, world leaders are coming together to defend Ukraine, affirming a mindset founded years ago. Since the beginning of the Russo-Ukraine war in 2021, the U.K., France, and Germany have been strong defenders of Ukraine, particularly after Russia’s invasion in February of 2022 (AP News). 

The support of European countries is the strongest force Ukraine can utilize against Russia. Russia has no interest in finding peace until they gain what they believe they deserve from the war. If Ukraine can’t work towards peace safely, they must seek allyship in strong countries to soften any blow that comes their way. The U.K. and France have guaranteed security for Ukraine during the war. Peace and compromise are always the goal; however, as the war continues to extend, they seem even more distant. Ukraine must utilize everything they can to maintain security for themselves.  

It is currently unclear what the next steps are for both countries. The war has occurred for too long, causing too much turmoil. Leaders across the globe, including Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump, are pushing for peace talks. However, nobody can force Russia to participate. Without the desire to reach an equal compromise, when will this war end?