British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with smiles and warm handshakes in London, where they discussed at Downing Street the next stages of negotiations to end the war and European security guarantees.
Read: Ukraine war: Critical meetings between Zelensky, Rutte, Costa and von der Leyen in Brussels
Zelensky is in the British capital today (8/12) for high-level contacts with the British Prime Minister, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz, with the main focus on advancing the peace process.
In their first joint statements to reporters, the European leaders emphasized the importance of coordination to establish a unified line on issues they discuss with the US and indirectly with Russia regarding ending hostilities.
The British Prime Minister noted that “decisions concerning Ukraine must be made by Ukraine itself,” emphasizing that peace discussions are at a “critical point in the overall effort.”
Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that “things that are very important today are… unity between Europe, Ukraine and the US,” while thanking his allies for organizing the meeting, adding: “I think it’s very important to hold such meetings.”
For his part, Emmanuel Macron highlighted: “The Russian economy is beginning to suffer, especially after our latest sanctions. We all support Ukraine and we all support peace.”
Finally, Friedrich Merz expressed concern about “certain details of American peace proposals for Ukraine,” but clarified that European allies will continue supporting Ukraine because “this country’s fate is Europe’s fate.”
After the four-way meeting ended, the European leaders made no comments and didn’t answer reporters’ questions, with Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron bidding farewell to Volodymyr Zelensky and Keir Starmer, who returned to the Prime Minister’s residence to continue discussions.
US: Pressure to achieve peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia
Despite assurances from American officials that an agreement is close, neither Ukraine nor Russia appear ready to sign the plan developed by Donald Trump’s team.
“The Americans keep pushing ‘faster, faster, faster,'” a Ukrainian official revealed today (8/12), adding that Kyiv responded to envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner that it “needs more intensive work and new ideas.”
The same official called the initial 28-point American proposal “terrifying,” which “largely reflected the Kremlin’s positions.”
“The next 20-point version formulated in Geneva was deemed much more acceptable, however the most sensitive issues – especially territorial ones – remain open,” he emphasized, then added “negotiations are progressing, but territorial issues are extremely complex.”
