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European leaders have characterized the present moment as “critical,” emphasizing the need to bolster support for Ukraine and exert increased pressure on Russia to cease hostilities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky engaged in discussions with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London on Monday. The meeting centered on a recently drafted peace plan developed by Ukrainian and US officials.
European leaders have signaled that further work is necessary to ensure security guarantees for Ukraine, amid US pressure on Kyiv to reach a swift agreement with Russia.
President Zelensky, who has since traveled to Brussels to confer with NATO officials, stated that Ukraine will share a revised version of the peace plan with the US on Tuesday.
Last week, Ukrainian officials spent three days in Florida negotiating with a US team, advocating for amendments to a US-backed peace proposal that has been widely viewed as favoring Russia.
Following Monday’s meeting in London, President Zelensky addressed journalists, stating that the “most certainly anti-Ukrainian points have been removed” from the initial deal proposed in November.
However, the Ukrainian president acknowledged outstanding concerns regarding territorial concessions, indicating that a compromise “has not yet been found there.”
The US has reportedly proposed that Ukraine withdraw its forces entirely from eastern regions that Russia has attempted to seize but has been unable to fully capture. In return, Russia would withdraw from other areas and cease fighting.
This option is reportedly unpalatable for President Zelensky, who refuses to reward Moscow for its aggression and has consistently warned that Russia would exploit any foothold in the eastern regions to launch future assaults on Ukraine.
“Americans are inclined, in principle, to finding a compromise,” Zelensky said on Monday.
President Zelensky further stated that the issue of security guarantees, which Ukraine is pursuing to deter future Russian aggression in the event of a peace agreement, remains unresolved.
A spokesperson for the UK prime minister’s office said: “The leaders all agreed that now is a critical moment and that we must continue to ramp up support to Ukraine and economic pressure on Putin to bring an end to this barbaric war.”
“The leaders discussed the importance of the US-led peace talks for European security and supported the progress made,” the statement said.
Leaders also “underscored the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, which includes robust security guarantees”, the statement added.
Prior to hosting the talks at Downing Street, Prime Minister Starmer emphasized the need for “hard-edged security guarantees” in any peace agreement for Ukraine.
Chancellor Merz stated that he was “sceptical” about some of the details of the potential peace plan originating from the US side, adding, “But we have to talk about it. That’s why we are here.”
Following the meeting, France indicated that efforts would be “intensified” to provide security guarantees for Kyiv.
There is palpable unease in Kyiv and across Europe that the US may curtail its support for Ukraine due to frustrations with the slow pace of negotiations. “We can’t manage without Americans, we can’t manage without Europe and that is why we need to make some important decisions,” Zelensky said in London.
Despite the White House’s efforts to encourage Kyiv and Moscow to swiftly agree to a multi-point plan to end the war, there has been limited progress.
A five-hour meeting between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last week failed to produce tangible outcomes.
Those talks were followed by three days of discussions between Zelensky’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov and his US counterparts in Miami, which resulted in vague but positive statements of “progress” from both sides.
However, on Sunday Trump accused Zelensky of not having reading the draft of the revised peace deal.
“I’m a little disappointed that President Zelensky hasn’t yet read the proposal,” he said, while insisting Russia’s Vladimir Putin was “fine with it”.
Almost simultaneously Zelensky stated he expected to be briefed on the negotiations by Umerov either in London or Brussels on Monday. “Some issues can only be discussed in person,” he said.
The talks in London represent the latest attempt by Ukraine’s European allies to play a role in the US-led efforts to end the war, which they fear will undermine the long-term interests of the continent in favor of a quick resolution.
Despite significant economic pressure and sustained battlefield losses, the Kremlin has shown little inclination to compromise on its core demands, including preventing any future path for Ukraine to join the NATO military alliance.
Last week, President Putin reiterated his commitment to continue fighting until his forces achieve full control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, 85% of which is currently occupied by the Russian army.
As diplomatic discussions continue in the US and Europe, the conflict persists on the ground.
Between Sunday and Monday, a total of 10 people were killed and 47 were injured as Russian forces attacked nine regions using drones, glide bombs, and missiles.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Since then, thousands of civilians and soldiers have been killed or injured, with Ukraine’s cities continuing to come under fire on an near-nightly basis.
Europe’s leaders are trying to avoid alienating Donald Trump while fighting for Ukrainian sovereignty and future continental stability.
As Ukraine’s president meets European leaders for talks, how much is Europe spending on military support for Ukraine compared with the United States?
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Russia carried out strikes on Kremenchuk, while its defence ministry said it had shot down 77 Ukrainian drones in several locations.
France’s president condemns the attack and announces talks in London on Monday with Ukrainian, British and German leaders.
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