Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting top European leaders in London today as efforts to reach a peace agreement with Russia continue to stall after nearly four years of war.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hosting Mr. Zelensky at 10 Downing Street alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for a closed-door summit. The meeting aims to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiation position amid increasing dissatisfaction in Europe over the direction of recent peace proposals.
The European leaders are concerned about what they see as excessive concessions demanded by Russian President Vladimir Putin, including Moscow’s push for control of the entire Donbas region.
Tensions intensified late Sunday after US President Donald Trump publicly criticised Mr. Zelensky, claiming the Ukrainian leader had not yet read the latest peace proposal drafted after recent US-Russia discussions. Mr. Trump insisted that “his people love it,” although he did not clarify who he was referring to.
A previous version of the US-backed proposal — which reportedly echoed several Kremlin demands — was widely rejected across Ukraine.
Mr. Trump added that Russia was “fine” with the revised plan, even though President Putin said last week that parts of the proposal were “not workable.” Mr. Zelensky, for his part, said in a statement on Saturday that Ukraine was committed to pursuing a peace deal that ensures “peace, security, and reconstruction.”
European governments have grown increasingly frustrated after being sidelined from recent negotiations led by the Trump administration. Relations were further strained last week when Washington’s updated national security strategy accused several European governments of holding “unrealistic expectations” about the war.
Monday’s London meeting is expected to focus on finding a unified European approach as diplomatic pressure continues to mount on Kyiv and Moscow. Despite the deadlock, Mr. Zelensky says he remains determined to keep working toward a settlement that protects Ukraine’s sovereignty.
