Prime minister Justin Trudeau It is on its way to London this morning ahead of a European Defense Summit tomorrow seeks to establish the conditions for a lasting peace in Ukraine.
The summit was announced at the beginning of the week to involve European leaders, but has a new approach to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, shortly after an explosive meeting on Friday with United States President Donald Trump at the White House.
Kiev and Washington was expected to sign a critical mineral agreement as part of the efforts to end Ukraine War with Russia but Trump showed zelenskyy’s open contempt after insisting that the agreement included US security guarantees
Europe was struck earlier this month by Trump’s openings to Russia and began to make its own plans to strengthen Ukraine’s defense, seeing it as part of the basic security interests of Europe.
Canada was not mentioned as one of the countries invited to join the Sunday meeting when the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed the event during his trip to Washington to meet with Trump earlier this week.
Steve Hewitt, an intelligence researcher teaching Canadian studies at the University of Birmingham in England, says the fact that Trudeau will go to the summit sends a message about who Ottawa sees his partners.
« It’s a kind of political statement in many ways, » said Hewitt.
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« There is a lot of symbolism around this meeting. »
He said that symbolism can also be seen in Trudeau and several European leaders who publish Zelenskyy support on social media, calling « a clear positioning » that is disagreeing with Trump, adding that it is « notable » the United States that go back to Europe’s security concerns.
« I do not think there is parallel, certainly in the last 100 years, for what happens at this time, certainly not since World War II with the Cold War, » said Hewitt, a historian.
He drew a parallel between Britain’s decision to leave the European Union and Canada, and could no longer trust the United States for economic defense and security. « The two countries, in a way, have been reduced to some extent, » he said.
Starmer said he is positioning the United Kingdom as a bridge between the United States and the European Union, and Hewitt said that Starmer « will try to keep both happy parts and may end up alienating the two parts of the process. »
In this light, Canada seeks stronger bonds with different United States partners
Starmer will meet Zelenskyy before Sunday talks and also invited NATO leaders, the European Commission, as well as a dozen countries, such as France, Germany, Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands.
During his own visit to Washington, Starmer caused some Canadians to opt against Trump’s Trump’s conversation in Canada’s annexation, when he asked his thoughts about the idea.
Hewitt said that the movement was « very insulting » for many Canadians, but he has had little media coverage in Britain, despite the fact that the Canadians are looking for the United Kingdom as a close partner and some who suggest that King Charles should weigh Trump’s threats.
« There is a bit of nostalgia (inside) this idea that the United Kingdom still actively concerns Canada or that King Charles, regardless of the British government, of making some kind of political declaration, » he said.
« These things will not happen and I think the Starmer government has calculated that they need somehow to be next to the United States. »
Hewitt has lived in Britain for 23 years and says he is frustrated by « forgetting here in Canada, and all focus focuses on the United States, despite historical links between Canada and the United Kingdom »
& Copy 2025 The Canadian Press
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