Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will hold high-stakes talks in London on Monday with British, French, and German leaders, seeking renewed support as Washington intensifies pressure on Kyiv to consider a U.S.-backed peace proposal with Russia. The meeting comes at a critical juncture for Ukraine, with the war approaching its fourth year and battlefield conditions worsening.
European Leaders Rally Behind Kyiv as US Pressure Mounts
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are traveling to London specifically to meet Zelensky. Both leaders have publicly reinforced their support for Ukraine amid growing concern that the United States may push Kyiv toward accepting terms viewed as overly favorable to Moscow.
In a video address from a moving train on Sunday night, Zelensky told Ukrainians he was beginning “a new diplomatic week” focused on consultations with European allies.
He emphasized that discussions would center on security guarantees, air defence systems, long-term financial assistance, and developing shared negotiating positions ahead of any peace talks.
The timing of the meeting reflects the gravity of the situation. Russian forces are making incremental gains in eastern Ukraine, while intensified missile and drone strikes have left cities and towns facing prolonged power outages as critical infrastructure comes under fire.
US Peace Push Intensifies, But Kyiv and Moscow Show Little Willingness
The latest diplomatic pressure stems from a ceasefire plan proposed by Washington last month. The original proposal reportedly endorsed several of Russia’s wartime demands. European allies have since thrown their weight behind Kyiv’s efforts to secure more acceptable terms.
Last week, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, presented a revised peace framework in Moscow. They then held several days of talks with Ukrainian officials in Miami, which concluded Saturday without agreement. Zelensky described the talks as “constructive but not easy.”
On Sunday, Trump said he was “disappointed” that Zelensky had not yet read the latest U.S.-backed proposal.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov responded that he would brief Zelensky on the Miami discussions and provide all documents linked to the peace plan. According to Umerov, Kyiv’s main objective was to obtain complete information from U.S. officials about their negotiations in Moscow and review all drafts in detail with the president.
U.S. officials maintain they are in the “final stage” of reaching a deal. Yet so far, neither Kyiv nor Moscow has indicated readiness to sign onto the framework prepared by Trump’s team.
As Zelensky and European leaders convene in London, the central question looms: Will Europe stand firm with Ukraine—or will U.S. pressure reshape the course of negotiations?
