UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London, a day after the Ukrainian leader clashed with US President Donald Trump in Washington DC.
In an extraordinary Oval Office meeting on Friday, Trump threatened to withdraw support for Ukraine, three years after Russia invaded its smaller neighbour.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Zelenskyy and Trump on Saturday and called for calm in an interview following Friday’s White House clash.
London Summit
Ahead of Sunday’s summit in London to discuss ways to support Ukraine in its war with Russia, Starmer reiterated his support for Kyiv.
European leaders are attending the summit that the Ukrainian president will attend on Sunday to discuss a peace plan.
“In partnership with our allies, we must intensify our preparations for the European element of security guarantees alongside continued discussions with the United States,” Starmer said in a statement issued late Saturday.
“Now is the time for us to unite in order to guarantee the best outcome for Ukraine, protect European security, and secure our collective future,” he added.
Hours earlier, Ukraine and the UK announced a $2.84 billion loan agreement to support Kyiv’s defence capabilities, to be paid back with the profits of immobilised sovereign Russian assets.
“The funds will be directed toward weapons production in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said on X.
“During our talks, we discussed the challenges facing Ukraine and all of Europe, coordination with partners, concrete steps to strengthen Ukraine’s position, and ending the war with a just peace, along with robust security guarantees,” he wrote on X
During our talks, we discussed the challenges facing Ukraine and all of Europe, coordination with partners, concrete steps to strengthen Ukraine’s position, and ending the war with a just peace, along with robust security guarantees,” he wrote on X
Cheers For Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy’s convoy received cheers from supporters in Downing Street, where he was embraced by Starmer and posed for photographs before heading inside the British leader’s home.
“I hope you heard some of that cheering in the street. That is the people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you … and our absolute determination to stand with you,” Starmer told him.
“You’re very, very welcome here in Downing Street,” Starmer told Zelenskyy.
“I want to thank you, the people of the United Kingdom, for such big support from the very beginning of this war,” Zelenskyy responded.
He is due to meet King Charles III on Sunday.
The leaders met behind closed doors for around 75 minutes and embraced again as Starmer escorted Zelensky to his car.
Starmer Hope
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday he was convinced Donald Trump wanted to see a lasting peace in Ukraine despite an ugly row between the U.S. leader and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday.
Speaking on BBC television, Starmer said he was uncomfortable watching the meeting between Trump and Zelenskiy, when the Ukrainian leader was asked to leave after being accused of being ungrateful for the U.S. aid delivered to his country.
“I have to say, I’ve spoken to President Trump a number of times. I’ve met him twice … I’m clear in my mind that he does want lasting peace. He does want an end to be fighting in Ukraine,” he said.
(With inputs from IBNS and Reuters)
