UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are set to meet separately with US President Donald Trump this week, reaffirming their commitment to supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Both leaders are expected to emphasize the importance of placing Ukraine at the center of international negotiations.
A statement from Downing Street confirmed that the two European leaders spoke on Sunday, reiterating the need for continued security efforts and united leadership in the face of Russia’s aggression. “The UK and Europe must continue stepping up to meet their security needs and show united leadership in support of Ukraine,” the statement read.
This development comes as tensions rise over Trump’s recent comments on Ukraine. The former US president criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a “dictator without elections” on his Truth Social platform. Zelenskyy, who was elected in 2019, expressed in a press conference on Sunday that he would consider stepping down for peace in Ukraine.
Both Starmer and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg have been clear that any negotiations involving Ukraine must include Ukraine itself. At the same time, reports suggest the White House is pressuring Zelenskyy to sign a $500 billion minerals deal with the US, potentially granting the US control over half of Ukraine’s mineral resources.
These diplomatic meetings highlight the ongoing complexity of international efforts to address the war in Ukraine and the geopolitical balancing act between support for Ukraine and pressures from global powers.
