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 debate, he seemed 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.
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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 after we spoke, it was clear that it was additionally about laying down a line.
Not a lot about what a peace deal for Ukraine would possibly seem like, however how it might be policed.
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Ukrainian troops within the within the Donetsk area. Pic: Reuters
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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 present what he known as a “backstop”.
He did not elaborate on precisely what this could imply, however it’s clear that he is speaking about America committing its army muscle to safe Ukraine’s future.
“A lasting peace”, because the prime minister insists, fairly 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 muscle tissues – hanging 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 likelihood for Sir Keir to take a management position in post-Brexit Europe, and it is one he needs to take.
However the greater worry for Europeans could also be that America and Russia do not need to discuss to one another about simply Ukraine – but additionally 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 could have extra in frequent with Putin than he does with most European leaders.
And that might seem like a brand new world order.
