Zelenskyy set for European summit in London after Trump showdown

LONDON — European leaders will collect in London on Sunday to satisfy with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following a tempestuous White House meeting that thrust U.S.-Ukrainian relations additional into disaster.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will “intensify his efforts in pursuit of a simply and lasting peace in Ukraine” whereas internet hosting Sunday’s summit within the British capital, an announcement from his workplace mentioned.

Talking with BBC Information on Sunday morning, Starmer mentioned he had agreed with President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron that the U.Okay. and France would work on a Ukraine peace plan to then be introduced to — and mentioned with — the U.S. The prime minister added that “one or two” different nations could also be concerned in drafting the plan “to cease the preventing.”

Zelenskyy arrived within the U.Okay. on Saturday, straight from his go to to Washington, D.C., during which an Oval Workplace assembly with Trump and Vice President JD Vance descended into an open argument in entrance of gathered reporters.

Trump and Vance lambasted Zelenskyy, falsely accusing Ukraine of beginning the 3-year-old struggle with Russia, which started when Moscow troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The American leaders additionally expressed frustration over a proposed minerals extraction take care of the U.S. and Kyiv’s alleged unwillingness to achieve a peace take care of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

European leaders had been fast to rally across the Ukrainian chief and his group, although a number of burdened the significance of Kyiv retaining good — and repairing broken — relations with the U.S.

“The prime minister has this weekend reiterated his unwavering help for Ukraine and is decided to discover a method ahead that brings an finish to Russia’s unlawful struggle and ensures Ukraine a long-lasting peace based mostly on sovereignty and safety,” Starmer’s workplace mentioned in an announcement.

Starmer spoke with each Zelenskyy and Trump on Friday night within the quick aftermath of the Ukrainian chief’s disastrous D.C. go to, which ended with the cancellation of a deliberate press convention and the Ukrainian delegation being requested to go away the White Home.

Leaders from Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Czechia and Romania, in addition to the NATO secretary-general and the presidents of the European Fee and European Council, are anticipated to participate in Sunday’s summit.

The British chief’s assertion mentioned the important thing subjects of dialogue will embrace additional navy help for Ukraine, elevated financial stress on Russia, the necessity for a “robust” and “lasting” peace deal that “ensures that Ukraine is ready to deter and defend in opposition to future Russian assault, plus planning for “robust safety ensures” offered by overseas companions.

“In partnership with our allies, we should intensify our preparations for the European component of safety ensures, alongside continued discussions with the USA,” Starmer mentioned in an announcement.

Zelenskyy on Saturday thanked Starmer for his “significant and heat” reception in London. The president additionally confirmed that Ukraine and London signed an settlement permitting Kyiv to entry revenues generated by Russian monetary property frozen within the U.Okay.

“I thank the folks and authorities of the UK for his or her great help from the very starting of this struggle,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media. “We’re completely satisfied to have such strategic companions and to share the identical imaginative and prescient of what a safe future ought to appear to be for all.”

Zelenskyy can be attributable to meet with King Charles III on Sunday, the Ukrainian chief’s spokesperson confirmed to ABC Information.

ABC Information’ Rashid Haddou, Victoria Beaule, Oleksiy Pshemyskiy and Tom Soufi Burridge contributed to this report.