European leaders have paid tribute to Keir Starmer after he announced his resignation as prime minister, triggering the postponement of an upcoming EU-UK summit. The European Council president, António Costa, confirmed the delay, stating, “for sure we need to postpone it, but we are reassessing the opportunity to hold this new summit.” He added, “My wish is that [Starmer’s] successor will give continuity on this path to reset our relationship with the UK.”
Von der Leyen and Zelenskyy offer praise
Soon after Starmer’s resignation speech at No 10, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, tweeted: “It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years. European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you. Thank you, dear Keir.” The annual EU-UK summit, announced for 22 July after weeks of uncertainty, is now postponed. With Andy Burnham the most likely next UK prime minister, Starmer’s last international outing could be the Nato summit in Ankara on 7-8 July.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, thanked Starmer for “all our cooperation, your support, and the joint decisions that have helped make our Europe and our protection of life stronger.” While Kyiv expressed frustration with UK support early in Starmer’s premiership, Zelenskyy offered warm praise: “Keir, you are always a welcome guest in Ukraine.”
Merz and Trump react
German chancellor Friedrich Merz’s spokesperson said Starmer had always been “a reliable and close partner in foreign policy questions, particularly regarding Ukraine.” Starmer is expected to attend an E5 meeting in Berlin on Wednesday, where Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Poland will prepare for the Nato summit. The Kremlin’s chief spokesperson said Starmer had “not done anything to distinguish himself on the issue of British-Russia relations,” adding that it was unlikely anyone on the British political scene would take a different position.
Donald Trump offered his best wishes before Starmer’s announcement, writing on Truth Social: “Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!” Differences between the two emerged after Trump disparaged Nato allies, prompting an angry rebuttal from Starmer over “insulting and frankly appalling” comments about British troops in Afghanistan. Trump also criticised the UK over the Chagos Islands and Starmer’s refusal to offer military support in US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
Other allies and EU relations
Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said he was thinking of his friend on “what must be a very tough day. Serving in public life is a tremendous privilege but politics can also be a harsh business.” Norway’s prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, noted: “The United Kingdom is Norway’s close ally in Europe, and over the past two years our countries have grown even closer through important agreements.” Before announcing the summit postponement, Costa said under Starmer’s premiership “we turned a new page in EU-UK relations,” adding, “The EU is committed to continued cooperation in this spirit.”
At the postponed EU-UK summit, the two sides hoped to sign agreements on a food and drink deal to ease border checks, linking emissions trading systems and a youth mobility programme. Post-referendum EU-UK relations improved under Rishi Sunak in 2023 with the Northern Ireland Brexit deal, and became warmer after Starmer’s 2024 election victory, though EU officials considered the government’s reset hopes unrealistic. While the EU and UK signed a security partnership in May 2025, they failed to agree on British participation in the EU’s €150bn SAFE defence loans scheme.
