British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warmly welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in London on Saturday, embracing him as the Ukrainian leader arrived for talks following a tense exchange with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.
During a high-stakes Oval Office meeting on Friday, Trump threatened to withdraw American support for Ukraine, three years into the country’s resistance against Russia’s invasion.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke with both Zelenskiy and Trump on Saturday, urged calm and called for mutual respect, emphasizing the need for continued cooperation despite recent tensions.
In London, Zelenskiy was met with cheers from the public as he arrived at Downing Street for discussions with Starmer ahead of a European leaders’ summit scheduled for Sunday. The gathering will focus on advancing Ukraine’s peace efforts.
Addressing Zelenskiy, Starmer underscored the UK’s unwavering commitment: “I hope you heard the cheering outside—that’s the people of the United Kingdom showing their support. We stand with you and Ukraine for as long as necessary.”
Zelenskiy described the meeting as both “important and warm,” stating that discussions covered Ukraine’s security challenges, strategic coordination with allies, and efforts to secure long-term security guarantees.
Following Zelenskiy’s meeting with Trump, European leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, highlighting the growing divide between Washington and its traditional allies regarding the war. Meanwhile, senior Russian officials reacted with satisfaction, portraying Zelenskiy’s White House encounter as a setback and calling for U.S. military aid to Kyiv to be cut.
Macron also spoke with Starmer, European Council President Antonio Costa, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte ahead of the London summit. In an interview, he urged all parties to remain composed, act with respect and gratitude, and focus on practical steps forward, stressing the high stakes involved.
Macron revealed that Zelenskiy was open to restoring dialogue with the U.S., including discussions on granting American access to revenues from Ukraine’s natural resources. However, he did not disclose Trump’s stance on the matter.
Meanwhile, Trump’s administration signaled no immediate interest in revisiting a minerals agreement that Ukraine had hoped would encourage Washington’s backing and secure Republican support for additional military aid.
Despite the recent diplomatic strain, Zelenskiy expressed hope for repairing relations with Trump, acknowledging in an interview that he regretted how events unfolded.
During his London visit, Zelenskiy is also set to meet King Charles on Sunday at Sandringham estate. Expressing his appreciation for the invitation, he told Starmer, “I’m very happy that His Majesty the King accepted my meeting tomorrow.”
Britain has been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine, with King Charles previously commending the resilience and strength of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression.
As part of Starmer’s engagement with Washington, he presented Trump with a formal invitation from the King for a state visit, a move that could make Trump the first elected leader in modern history to receive two state visits from a British monarch.
