Stay informed of free updates
Just register at War in Ukraine Myft Digest – Delivered directly in your reception box.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer adopted Voludymyr Zelenskyy on the Downing Street steps while attempted the Ukrainian president after his explosive meeting with Donald Trump.
Starmer spoke to Trump and Zelenskyy by phone after Friday rupture in the oval office and urged them to take over the talks, in particular by finalizing an agreement to allow the United States to share part of the mineral wealth of Ukraine, according to people informed of conversations.
On Saturday, Starmer brought a public support exhibition in Zelenskyy, which was welcomed by public members when he arrived at Downing Street, telling him that he had the “full support” of the United Kingdom.
“You have heard the inhabitants of the United Kingdom go out to demonstrate how they support you and that we are absolutely determined to stay with you,” said Starmer, before private discussions.
The reception of Zelenskyy at Downing Street contrast marked with his hostile meeting with Trump the day before in the White House. The president of Ukraine, who will meet King Charles on Sunday, told Starmer that “we are counting on your support”.
Starmer will welcome 14 European leaders in London on Sunday in order to reach military and financial support to Ukraine, in particular by providing aid to provide peace with Russia.
The British Prime Minister, who has already proposed to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine after any cease-fire, hopes that several other European nations will follow suit, according to European diplomats.
Starmer will impress Zelenskyy at the meeting on Saturday that he must first repair relations with Trump and that all peace will only last if he is guaranteed by the United States, British officials said.
“The Prime Minister’s priority is to do everything you need to defend Ukraine,” said an ally of Starmer. “This means that the United States must be involved. You must resolve this relationship and return to the mineral agreement. »»
France has also offered troops to help ensure peace in Ukraine; Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron will use Sunday’s meeting to try to galvanize a more muscular European response.
A British official suggested that it was time for other European leaders to put their money where their mouths were: “What Ukraine needs now are firearms and butter. He doesn’t need people to tweet and signaling virtue. »»
Starmer wants Europe to place Ukraine in a solid position for talks with Russia – including kyiv armaments and the hardening of sanctions in Moscow – and to develop a viable plan to conclude a peace agreement.
The British Prime Minister had warm talks with Trump in the White House Thursday – barely 24 hours before Zelenskyy clashed with a furious American president and vice -president JD Vance.
British officials do not believe that Starmer’s efforts were in vain or that it was played in any way by the American president. One of them said: “Our relationship with the president is better than it was at the start of the week and it is important.
“What happened with Zelenskyy in the oval office makes it even more important than ever than the Prime Minister and Macron went to the White House.
“Ukraine needs armaments, food, long -term peace and security guarantees. And for that, they need the United States. People can tweet what they like, but there is no other plan. »»
Another British official said: “The PM will bring people together and politely ensure that they realize that there is only one negotiation in the city – and that is President Trump.”
Downing Street expects the participants at the summit on Sunday to include Olaf Scholz from Germany, Giorgia Meloni of Italy and Donald Tusk of Poland, as well as Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and Mark Rutte, secretary general of NATO.
The summit will take place in Lancaster House, a 19th century manor near the Buckingham Palace, in central London. Starmer will also hold calls with the leaders of the three Baltic states.
A French official said last week that the first indications were that the United Kingdom and France were likely to provide the greatest contingents of any post-pan stabilization force, but there could be aid offers from some of the Baltic states and perhaps Sweden.
Germany and Poland, which both support Ukraine, are among the countries that have so far not proposed to send troops to the country struck by the war to help obtain a peace agreement.
