Zelenskyy Meets UK PM Starmer Before Trump-Putin Summit/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London as European leaders expressed growing anxiety ahead of the Trump-Putin summit. Concerns are mounting that Ukraine’s interests may be sidelined in potential ceasefire negotiations. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange strikes and prisoners.
Ukraine Diplomacy Quick Looks
- Zelenskyy met UK Prime Minister Starmer in London Thursday
- Meeting comes one day before Trump-Putin summit in Alaska
- European leaders worry Ukraine could be forced to cede territory
- Starmer emphasized Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be preserved
- Macron said Trump hinted at shared security guarantees
- Russia, Ukraine exchanged 84 prisoners each on Thursday
- Ukrainian civilians and soldiers injured in Russian strikes
- Ukraine’s drone strike injured 13 in Russia’s Rostov region
- Trump warned of “severe consequences” if Putin rejects peace
- Public skepticism in Ukraine remains high about peace prospects
Deep Look: Zelenskyy Meets Starmer as Europe Fears Trump-Putin Summit Fallout
LONDON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in London Thursday for a high-profile meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, just one day before a critical U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The diplomatic encounter served as a visible reminder of Britain’s ongoing support for Ukraine and underscored growing European anxiety over potential geopolitical shifts.
The two leaders exchanged warm embraces outside 10 Downing Street but made no public remarks. After about an hour of talks, Starmer accompanied Zelenskyy to his vehicle and shared a second embrace, highlighting the personal rapport between the leaders.
Pre-Summit Anxiety in Europe
Zelenskyy’s visit followed a day of virtual meetings from Berlin, where he and several European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, conferred with Trump. Those leaders said Trump reassured them he would prioritize a ceasefire agreement with Putin during Friday’s summit.
Yet, deep concern lingers in European capitals that any deal made between Trump and Putin could come at the expense of Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty. Starmer, speaking during a coalition call on Wednesday, was clear: “International borders cannot be, and must not be changed by force.”
He also warned that Western allies must be prepared to increase pressure on Moscow if negotiations fail or result in a deal that undermines Ukraine’s independence.
Trump-Putin Summit Details and Nuclear Talks
The Kremlin announced that Friday’s meeting between Trump and Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, would begin at 11:30 a.m. local time. The format will start with a one-on-one session followed by broader delegation discussions and continue over a “working breakfast,” according to Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov.
Putin, in a Kremlin-released video, claimed the Trump administration was making “energetic and sincere efforts” to stop the conflict and suggested that the summit could yield progress not only on Ukraine but also on nuclear arms control issues.
Macron Cites U.S. Role in Security Guarantees
Macron, after the video call with Trump and European leaders, said the former U.S. president indicated the United States would play a role in future peace guarantees — though outside the NATO framework. “It’s a very important clarification that we have received,” Macron said.
Trump, however, avoided addressing U.S. security commitments during his public remarks.
Kyiv has long argued that any ceasefire agreement must be accompanied by firm guarantees from Western allies to protect against future Russian aggression. But many countries remain hesitant to pledge military personnel or long-term enforcement mechanisms.
Mixed Reactions in Ukraine
Inside Ukraine, optimism is in short supply. Many citizens doubt that the Trump-Putin summit will produce meaningful outcomes.
“We’ve already lost hope,” said Oleksandra Kozlova, a 39-year-old digital agency employee in Kyiv. “There have already been enough meetings and negotiations promising us, ordinary people, that something will be resolved. Unfortunately, this has not happened.”
Others in Ukraine are beginning to prioritize saving lives over holding territory. “The most important thing is to preserve the lives of male and female military personnel,” said Anton Vyshniak, a car salesman. “Borders are borders, but human lives are priceless.”
Prisoner Exchange and Continued Strikes
On the battlefield, conflict continued even as diplomacy intensified. Zelenskyy announced Thursday that Ukraine had secured the release of 84 individuals from Russian captivity, including both military personnel and civilians. Many had been imprisoned for years — some since as early as 2014 — and are in need of urgent medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed it had also received 84 soldiers from Ukraine in the exchange.
Meanwhile, the violence persisted on both sides.
Russian missile strikes in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region injured several civilians overnight. A 7-year-old girl and a 27-year-old man were wounded in a strike on the Seredyna-Budska community, regional officials reported. Both were hospitalized, with the child in stable condition.
In the southern Kherson region, Russian artillery wounded a 16-year-old boy in the village of Molodizhne.
Ukraine responded with drone attacks in southern Russia. In Rostov-on-Don, near the Ukrainian border, Ukrainian drones damaged several apartment buildings, injuring 13 civilians. Two of the wounded are in serious condition, according to regional authorities.
What Comes Next
As the world awaits Friday’s Trump-Putin summit, Ukraine’s future hangs in the balance. While some leaders cautiously hope for progress toward peace, others fear the possibility of a deal made without Ukraine’s full consent or participation.
Starmer and other European leaders are working to ensure that any resolution respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and does not set a precedent of rewarding aggression. But with uncertainty rising and the war grinding into its fourth year, many Ukrainians remain skeptical that diplomacy alone can bring it to an end.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.