Zelenskiy discusses Russia-Ukraine war in London
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy came to London to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer; While European countries try to keep international attention on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Iran war is keeping world leaders busy.
Starmer’s office said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte would also attend the meeting at 10 Downing St to discuss peace efforts in Ukraine and “the need to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia”.
The meeting took place just days after the United States temporarily waived some Russian oil sanctions to ease the pressure on global resources from the war in the Middle East sparked by joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.
Zelenskiy criticized the US move to ease sanctions, saying that this would provide an unexpected gain for Russia to continue its attacks on Ukraine.
In London today. On the agenda is His Majesty King III. It includes a meeting with Charles, meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, as well as a speech to the British Parliament. Our priorities are clear – greater security and opportunities… pic.twitter.com/JuyLH02MCH— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 17, 2026
US President Donald Trump has said he wants to achieve a peace agreement that will end the conflict.
However, the US-mediated talks between delegations from Russia and Ukraine, which have so far failed to make any significant progress on important issues, have lost momentum amid the conflicts in the Middle East.
At the same time, Trump rejected Zelenskiy’s offer to help the United States and its partners in the Persian Gulf combat Iranian drones.
Ukraine has become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-tech, battle-tested drone interceptors.
British officials say Russia and Iran are cooperating on drone technology and tactics in the Middle East.
Drone warfare experts from Britain and Ukraine have been sent to the region to help Iran repel drone attacks by its neighbours.
Starmer’s office said Britain and Ukraine would sign an agreement combining “Ukraine’s expertise with the UK’s industrial base for manufacturing and supplying drones and innovative capabilities”.
The UK is also funding an “Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence” with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.
Announcing his arrival in London at X, Zelenskiy said his priorities were “greater security and opportunities for Ukraine.”
Starmer said in a statement that “innovations in drones, electronic warfare and rapid warfare are now at the heart of national and economic security, and this is further magnified by the conflict in the Middle East.”
“By deepening our defense partnerships, we are ensuring that the UK and our allies are better prepared to meet the threats of the future, while strengthening Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia’s relentless, ongoing attacks.”
Russia’s defense ministry said on Tuesday that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 206 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russian regions, the annexed Crimean peninsula and the Sea of Azov.
The ministry said that a total of 40 captured unmanned aerial vehicles were flying towards Moscow.
Asked if Ukraine had seen an increase in drone attacks on Moscow in the past few days, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said officials in Kiev were “continuing absolutely futile resistance” to Russia’s invasion.
