Zelenskyy Joins European Leaders in London to Align on Ukraine Peace Efforts
Ukraine and European leaders meet in London to strengthen diplomatic ties and push forward peace talks with the US.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Ukrinform.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London to coordinate diplomatic efforts with the United States and agree on a joint position.
The leaders discussed Ukraine’s ongoing diplomatic engagement with the US, focusing on security guarantees, reconstruction efforts, and next steps in the peace process. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of aligning their approaches to ensure consistent messaging and support from Western allies.
“The most important things today are unity between Europe and Ukraine, as well as unity between Europe, Ukraine, and the United States,” the Ukrainian president wrote following the meeting.
They also addressed further defense assistance for Ukraine, underscoring the need for continued military support amid ongoing security challenges. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Starmer, Macron, and Merz for their personal commitment and active participation in advancing peace efforts.
The French presidency also reported that the meeting in London allowed leaders to continue joint work on the US peace plan for Ukraine, aiming to complement it with European contributions in close coordination with Kyiv.
National security advisors noted that this work is concluding to enable negotiations between European, American, and Ukrainian officials, strengthening cooperation in the coming days. They added that efforts will also focus on providing Ukraine with reliable security guarantees and planning reconstruction measures.
Speaking ahead of talks in London, Macron said that Europe and Ukraine now hold significant leverage in peace negotiations with Russia, emphasizing that the main task is to align the positions of Ukraine, European countries, and the United States.
He also noted that Ukraine’s resistance continues, while Russia’s economy is beginning to feel the impact of recent EU and US sanctions. Macron stressed that the focus now is on coordinating common positions to conclude peace talks and move to a new phase under the best possible conditions for Ukraine, Europe, and collective security.
Meanwhile, peace negotiations between the United States and Ukraine remain stalled over the Donbas region, as Washington pressures Kyiv to make territorial concessions while President Zelenskyy insists on maintaining current control. About 30% of Donbas, including Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, remains under Ukrainian authority, and Kyiv fears that yielding ground could trigger further Russian advances into Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv.
Ukraine is also seeking concrete security guarantees from the US to protect the territories it continues to hold. American officials, including former President Donald Trump, are pushing for a swift agreement, urging Kyiv to accept a compromise that could satisfy Moscow’s demands while being presented as a negotiated settlement.
The situation highlights the tension between Russia’s ambitions, US pressure for rapid progress, and Ukraine’s determination not to exchange territory for an uncertain peace.
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