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| Zelenskyy meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London |
King Charles is set to formally receive Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Sandringham on Sunday, reinforcing the UK's and EU's steadfast commitment to Ukraine following his challenging encounter with Donald Trump and JD Vance at the White House.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also bring together European leaders, as well as the heads of Canada and Turkey, at a specialized defense summit aimed at projecting a unified stance on the Ukraine conflict.
Upon arriving at Downing Street for discussions with Starmer on Saturday night—just a day after facing an intense ten-minute verbal exchange with Trump and Vice President Vance in the Oval Office—Zelenskyy expressed gratitude, stating he was "very happy" that the King had granted him an audience.
The decision to extend an official royal meeting was widely perceived in Westminster as a deliberate effort to ensure Zelenskyy received similar treatment to Trump. During Trump’s Wednesday meeting at the White House, Starmer had invited him for a second state visit to the UK, which would also include a meeting with King Charles.
Reports emerged last night suggesting that the UK could further demonstrate its support by unblocking billions of pounds in frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine. According to The Sunday Times, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to redirect funds originally intended for domestic green investments towards defense. If enacted, this would mark the first instance of frozen Russian assets directly financing military efforts.
The heated exchanges in Washington, which culminated in Zelenskyy being asked to leave the White House before formal discussions could even commence, have raised serious concerns among European and global leaders about potential long-term damage to the Western alliance and efforts toward peace in Ukraine. At the defense summit today, Starmer is expected to emphasize the necessity for European unity against President Vladimir Putin.
Starmer emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating: "Three years on from Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, we are at a turning point. 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."
Following his turbulent US visit, Zelenskyy appeared focused on mitigating the fallout from the White House confrontation. In a social media post, he expressed appreciation, stating he was “thankful to President Trump, Congress for their bipartisan support, and the American people,” underscoring that Trump’s backing remained "crucial."
During Friday’s meeting, Trump and Vance had sharply criticized Zelenskyy for what they perceived as a lack of appreciation for the substantial financial and military aid the US had provided since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Contrasting with the tense White House atmosphere, Zelenskyy received an enthusiastic welcome in London. Upon his arrival at Downing Street, crowds gathered on Whitehall to cheer him. In a clear display of solidarity, Starmer personally stepped out onto the pavement to greet Zelenskyy before embracing him and gesturing toward the public.
Inside No. 10, Starmer reinforced the UK’s commitment, telling Zelenskyy: "The people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you, how much they support Ukraine."
Reaffirming Ukraine’s reliance on its allies, Zelenskyy responded: "We count on your support, and we’re really happy that we have such partners and such friends."
One of the key topics at the defense summit will be how Europe can expand its military assistance to Ukraine and uphold NATO’s strength, especially if the US is perceived as withdrawing from its European security commitments.
Leaders will also deliberate on strategies to escalate economic pressure on Russia, aiming to weaken its war effort. Analysts suggest that given the state of the Russian economy, it may only have about a year left before it struggles to sustain its operations in Ukraine.
King Charles previously met Zelenskyy in February 2023 during an unexpected visit to the UK. At the time, the monarch conveyed his deep concern, saying: "We’ve all been worried about you and thinking about your country for so long."
During the same visit, Zelenskyy addressed Parliament, expressing his appreciation for the UK's unwavering support and concluding his speech with: "God bless Great Britain and long live the king."
On Friday, Trump cut short his meeting with Zelenskyy, asserting that the Ukrainian leader was "gambling with world war three." His frustration reportedly stemmed from Zelenskyy’s hesitance toward a proposed peace plan with Russia. As a result, discussions regarding a potential deal involving Ukrainian mineral rights in exchange for American arms were put on hold.
Following his hour-long meeting with Zelenskyy, Starmer accompanied him to his motorcade outside No. 10 and bid him farewell—an evident contrast to Zelenskyy’s solitary departure from the White House just a day prior.
With European leaders increasingly anxious over the growing rift with the US on key issues such as security and trade, they are set to convene on Thursday to reassert their involvement in American-led peace efforts for Ukraine. Their stance remains firm that Ukraine must be central to any negotiations—an aspect that Trump’s administration has yet to firmly commit to.
A draft summit document obtained by the Observer states: "There can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine. There can be no negotiations that affect European security without Europe’s involvement. Ukraine and Europe’s security are united."
Summarizing the urgency of the situation, an EU diplomat remarked: "If this is not a wake-up call, then I don’t know what is. It is extremely important that the EU now moves from talking the talk, to also walking the walk in a much more focused and diligent way."
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