London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy with a warm embrace on Saturday as the Ukrainian leader arrived in London following a tense meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.
The visit comes amid heightened tensions between Kyiv and Washington, as Trump reportedly threatened to scale back U.S. support for Ukraine three years into its war with Russia. Meanwhile, European leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine, underscoring the growing divergence between the U.S. and its traditional allies on the conflict.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy was greeted by a cheering crowd and a warm embrace from Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he arrived for talks in London after a confrontational meeting with Donald Trump https://t.co/EZNpQInRNl pic.twitter.com/dsxcuhtcvf
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 2, 2025
UK Pledges Continued Support for Ukraine
A crowd gathered outside 10 Downing Street to cheer Zelenskiy as he arrived for talks with Starmer ahead of a European leaders’ summit on Sunday, where discussions will focus on Ukraine’s peace plan.
“I hope you heard some of that cheering in the street. That is the people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you … and our absolute determination to stand with you,” Starmer told Zelenskiy.
The British prime minister assured the Ukrainian leader of “full backing across the United Kingdom,” reiterating the UK’s commitment to Ukraine’s defense.
Zelenskiy described his talks with Starmer as “important and warm,” emphasizing discussions on strengthening Ukraine’s position and securing reliable security guarantees.
“During our talks, we discussed the challenges standing before Ukraine and all of Europe, coordination with our partners, concrete steps to strengthen Ukraine’s position, and ending the war in a just fashion, with reliable security guarantees,” Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram.
European Leaders React to Zelenskiy-Trump Tensions
Following Zelenskiy’s meeting with Trump, European leaders have rallied behind Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke separately with both leaders on Saturday and urged restraint amid rising diplomatic tensions.
“I think that beyond the frayed nerves, everybody needs to calm down, show respect and gratitude, so we can move forward concretely, because what’s at stake is too important,” Macron told several Sunday newspapers.
Macron also held talks with Starmer, European Council President Antonio Costa, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte ahead of the London summit. He noted that Zelenskiy was open to “restoring dialogue” with Washington, including discussions over a potential deal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. However, he did not disclose Trump’s stance on the matter.
Russian Officials and Trump Allies React
Senior Russian politicians have seized on the fallout from Zelenskiy’s White House visit, viewing it as a humiliation for the Ukrainian leader and a signal that U.S. military aid may be at risk.
Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has criticized Zelenskiy’s handling of the situation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CNN that the Ukrainian leader should “apologize for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became.”
Also Read | IAEA Inspectors Arrive at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant via Russia for the First Time
Zelenskiy, in an interview with Fox News, acknowledged the strain in his relationship with Trump and appeared to express regret, saying, “I’m sorry for this.”
The diplomatic rift between Kyiv and Washington led to the failure of a minerals deal that Ukraine had hoped would secure continued U.S. support. A senior White House official told Reuters that Trump has no immediate plans to revisit the agreement.
Zelenskiy to Meet King Charles
As part of his UK visit, Zelenskiy is scheduled to meet King Charles on Sunday at the monarch’s Sandringham estate.
“I’m very happy that His Majesty the King accepted my meeting tomorrow,” Zelenskiy told Starmer.
Also Read | US Judge Extends Block on Trump’s Restrictions on Gender-Affirming Care
Britain has been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine, and King Charles has previously praised the resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression.
During his visit to the White House, Starmer also extended an invitation from King Charles for Trump to make a state visit to the UK, which would make him the first elected U.S. president to receive two state visits from a British monarch.
