Keir Starmer to host President Zelensky at Downing Street for peace talks summit
The PM will use the meeting to show the UK’s support for Ukraine, and discuss the ongoing talks between the US and Ukraine aimed at finding an agreement on post-war security
Keir Starmer is set to welcome President Zelensky, President Macron and Chancellor Merz to Downing Street on Monday as talks on ending the war in Ukraine continue.
The PM will use the meeting to show the UK’s support for Ukraine, and discuss the ongoing talks between the US and Ukraine aimed at finding an agreement on guaranteeing Ukraine’s post-war security.
Almost two weeks ago the four men took part in a virtual meeting of the “ coalition of the willing ” convened by Mr Stamer and Mr Macron to provide a European peacekeeping force that can be deployed to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
However, a peace deal still seems a distant prospect in Ukraine, where Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Friday night.
Electricity outages and heating cuts hit Ukraine early today in a savage attack, with Russia using 51 missiles and 653 strike drones on civilian infrastructure as temperatures sank to zero and below. A large thermal power plant in Kryvyi Rih – Volodymr Zelensky ’s birthplace – suffered a direct hit with homes also damaged
Meanwhile, US and Ukrainian officials are set to conduct a third day of talks in Florida as Donald Trump ’s administration pushes Kyiv to accept an American-backed peace plan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already rejected some parts of the plan, with Ukraine’s territorial integrity and measures to deter future Russian attacks proving major sticking points for Moscow.
The PM has repeatedly stressed that Ukraine must determine its own future, and said the coalition of the willing’s peacekeeping force would play a “vital role” in guaranteeing the country’s security.
On Friday, both US and Ukrainian negotiators said “real progress” towards a deal depended on “Russia’s readiness to show serious commitment to long-term peace”.
In its new national security strategy, published overnight on Saturday, the White House said it was committed to Ukraine’s survival as a “viable state”.
But the strategy also prioritised improving relations with Moscow, stating that ending the war is a core US interest to “re-establish strategic stability with Russia”.
