Keir Starmer looked every inch the global statesman as he spoke in the spectacular music room of Lancaster House, all gold paint and red carpets, after leading a global summit.
Hair neatly combed, suit perfectly fitted, he stared ahead and proclaimed that it was right “the UK should step up and lead”.
Sir Keir had just chaired a meeting of EU leaders as well as the President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Canada to try to find a way of saving a tattered peace deal which had been thrown into disarray by the child-like antics of Donald Trump.
Not that you would imagine this by hearing Sir Keir speak. The UK would remain “in lockstep” with the US which continued to be “a reliable ally”, he said.
Perhaps the most telling moment was when he spoke about plans for the UK and a “coalition of the willing” to send troops and air support to Ukraine to prevent another Russian invasion.
He said: “If you want to preserve peace you have to be prepared to defend the peace.”
That may be true, but the more famous version of the quote is “if you want peace you have to prepare for war”. Is war with Russia possible now? Asked this question, Sir Keir insisted his whole aim was to avoid conflict.
Rather like the Prime Minister’s visit to Washington last week, when the US President complimented his accent and raved about the royal family, the summit looked at like a diplomatic triumph but appearances can be deceiving.
Sir Keir failed to win agreement from President Trump that the US would provide the military “backstop” he thinks is needed to deter Russia’s President Putin from biding his time, rebuilding his shattered armies and launching another attempt to wipe Ukraine from the map (he also failed to win a promise the the UK would be spared US trade tariffs, his other goal).
In a similar way, the London summit showed the Europe was united in support of Ukraine and placed the UK at the heart of events.
However, it remains unclear how Russian dictator President Putin will be forced to end his onslaught against Ukraine.
And Sir Keir continues to insist his planned peacekeeping force will require US military support – which doesn’t appear forthcoming,
