Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with European leaders at a crucial summit in London on Sunday. This meeting follows an extraordinary and contentious exchange with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, which has left Western allies in a state of shock and has cast a shadow over the future of the Russia-Ukraine war.
On the same day, King Charles has accepted an invitation to meet with Zelensky, as announced by the Ukrainian leader. Zelensky arrived in Britain on Saturday ahead of the talks, which are intended to rekindle momentum towards a viable peace deal that had recently begun to take shape but was abruptly undermined by Friday's political drama.
On Saturday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Zelensky met at Downing Street where they signed an agreement aimed at accelerating $2.8 billion in loans to Ukraine. The UK government has indicated that the first tranche of this funding is expected to be disbursed as early as next week, providing much-needed support for Ukraine.
However, the upcoming summit is fraught with challenges as leaders from across Europe, convened by Starmer, must navigate the fallout from the recent upheaval. “It’s crucial for us to have President Trump’s support,” Zelensky stated in a series of posts on X on Saturday morning. “He wants to end the war, but no one wants peace more than we do.”
He emphasized, “We’ve been fighting for three years, and the Ukrainian people need to know that America is on our side.” The recent confrontation between Trump and Zelensky was alarming for Europe and would likely have pleased the Kremlin, intensifying the stakes of Sunday’s summit. Initially, this meeting aimed to build on the progress made during a similar gathering in Paris the previous weekend.
During the Oval Office meeting, Trump and JD Vance criticized Zelensky for being ungrateful for American military support, claiming he was “gambling with the lives of millions of people” and risking “World War III” by resisting Russia’s invasion. This exchange marked a significant shift in tone and raised concerns among European leaders.
Just a day before the confrontation, Starmer had managed to get Trump to retract previous comments labeling Zelensky a “dictator.” Trump expressed “respect” for the Ukrainian leader and hinted at the possibility of Ukraine reclaiming occupied territories in a future ceasefire agreement. These remarks were significant reversals and had set the stage for Zelensky’s visit. Now, however, Europe finds itself back at square one.
“Three years on from Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, we are at a turning point. Today, I will reaffirm my unwavering support for Ukraine and double down on my commitment to provide capacity, training, and aid to Ukraine, placing it in the strongest possible position,” Starmer stated ahead of the summit in London. He added, “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 emphasized, “Now is the time for us to unite to guarantee the best outcome for Ukraine, protect European security, and secure our collective future.” According to Downing Street, the summit will focus on three main objectives: addressing Ukraine’s short-term needs, securing a “lasting deal” to end the conflict, and planning for robust security guarantees.
As European leaders rushed to show their support for Zelensky on Friday evening, Starmer notably remained silent. Hours later, it was revealed that he had communicated with both Trump and Zelensky following their heated exchange. A spokesperson for Starmer confirmed, “He retains his unwavering support for Ukraine and is playing his part to find a path forward to a lasting peace, based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.”
Starmer is taking the role of interlocutor between Europe and the White House seriously, even when the situation appears dire. As the summit approaches, there is an increasing sense of desperation among Ukrainian officials. Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a Ukrainian member of parliament, voiced his concerns on Telegram, stating, “If you thought the situation would somehow miraculously improve today… don’t count on it.”
