Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived at 10 Downing Street in London for a pivotal round of talks with European leaders as diplomatic efforts intensify to shape the next phase of the war with Russia. The meeting, hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, brings together France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, marking one of the most significant in‑person gatherings of European allies in recent months The Kyiv Independent Daily Mail LBC.
The talks come amid renewed pressure on Kyiv to respond to a US‑backed peace proposal, following criticism from US President Donald Trump, who accused Zelensky of not fully engaging with the latest American plan to end the nearly four‑year conflict Daily Mail RTÉ Ireland. European leaders have privately expressed concern about being sidelined in negotiations dominated by Washington and Moscow, particularly after the emergence of a 28‑point draft peace framework that Kyiv has not yet endorsed The Kyiv Independent.
Zelensky’s visit follows a week of inconclusive discussions between Ukrainian and US officials in Miami, where both sides failed to reach a breakthrough on security guarantees and ceasefire terms. Ahead of the London meeting, Zelensky described recent talks with US envoys as “substantive and constructive,” while insisting that any agreement must include Europe’s input and safeguard Ukraine’s long‑term security RTÉ Ireland.
The London summit is expected to focus on coordinating a unified European response to the US proposal, reinforcing military and financial support for Kyiv, and outlining conditions under which Ukraine might consider entering formal peace negotiations. The leaders previously held a virtual meeting as part of a “coalition of the willing” exploring options for a European peacekeeping force that could be deployed in Ukraine after a ceasefire LBC.
As the diplomatic push continues, Russia has intensified strikes across Ukraine, with fresh attacks reported overnight, underscoring the urgency of the discussions RTÉ Ireland.
