Ceasefire talks hosted by Vance and Lammy

A hastily arranged Kent meeting aims to advance progress toward a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Ceasefire talks hosted by Vance and Lammy bring European US Ukrainian officials together

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a hastily arranged meeting in Kent to discuss progress toward a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The gathering will bring together Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and officials from Europe and the United States, with Ursula von der Leyen coordinating contacts behind the scenes. Germany will attend at advisory level, and the European Commission said it will stay in regular contact on the outcomes.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke with Zelenskyy, Starmer, and German Chancellor Merz, stressing unity and a shared approach. He added that Ukraine's future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians and that Europeans must be part of the solution because their own security is at stake.

Starmer and allied leaders are framing the Kent talks as a forum to align diplomatic messaging and plan steps toward peace, rather than a single binding agreement.

Diplomacy in Kent signals a broad, high level push for a political solution. Yet real leverage may be limited by battlefield realities and divergent interests among allies.

Public expectations will shape the talks as much as any policy text. The outcome will depend on sustained effort and credible steps on the ground.

Highlights

The next steps will reveal how far diplomacy can translate into tangible gains.