Keir Starmer to host Zelensky for Ukraine talks in Downing Street
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London on Monday, amid an ongoing impasse in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
Zelensky will attend the talks in Downing Street together with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Ukraine’s security and self-determination will be “at the heart” of the leaders’ discussions in London, Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said on Sunday. He said the US-led talks were at a “really pivotal moment”.
After three days of talks in Miami, US President Donald Trump’s outgoing envoy to Ukraine said an agreement to end the war was “really close” but depended on Russia’s cooperation.
Negotiations remain stuck on issues such as the size of the Ukrainian army after the end of the conflict with Moscow and Russian control of Donbas.
“If we get those two issues sorted out, I think everything else will work out pretty well,” US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told Reuters. “We’re almost there.”
Monday’s face-to-face talks were the latest attempt by Ukraine’s European allies to take part in ongoing efforts to end the war.
Downing Street, which confirmed the meeting on Sunday, said leaders would “focus on ongoing peace negotiations and next steps”, without giving details.
The White House is pushing Kiev and Moscow to agree on a multipoint plan to end the war, but there is little sign of progress despite both sides being engaged in the process.
The latest US-Ukraine talks ended over the weekend; Zelensky said he was “determined” to continue working with the United States after meeting with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.
European leaders opposed early versions of the US-led peace plan, which was revised after criticism that it favored Russia.
He has sought to win US support for his own proposals, including a European-led security force to oversee any peace deal in Ukraine. Rejected by Moscow.
The original version of the US plan was criticized by Ukraine and its allies for accepting Russian demands, including NATO participation, restrictions on the Ukrainian military, and control of the eastern Donbas region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded rejected revisions.
Despite the blow to Russia’s economy and heavy losses on the battlefield, Putin has been reluctant to make concessions on key points.
He said Russia would take Donbas by force if Ukraine did not give up control of the region, 85 percent of which is currently in Russian hands.
“Either we will liberate these regions by force, or Ukrainian soldiers will leave these regions,” Putin said in an interview with India Today.
While the talks continued, Russia launched another massive aerial bombardment of targets across Ukraine until Sunday.
Twenty-four hours earlier, Russia launched 653 drones and 51 missiles into Ukraine, triggering air strike warnings across the country.
Macron was among European leaders who showed “full solidarity” with Ukraine in the face of attacks and said they would “continue their efforts with the Americans” to achieve peace.
Meanwhile, US National Security Strategy, In the report released last week, Russia was not considered a threat to Europe.
Moscow said the strategy was consistent with its vision and was a “positive step” forward.
With new diplomatic negotiations on the horizon, EU officials have urged the United States to keep historic ties between the two continents intact.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in response, “This is the only reasonable strategy for our common security.” he said.
