Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the UK’s unwavering support during a meeting at Downing Street. Their discussions followed Zelensky’s tense encounter with US President Donald Trump, which exposed widening rifts over Western support for Ukraine.
The leaders signed a £2.26bn military loan, funded by profits from frozen Russian assets, to bolster Ukraine’s defence industry. Zelensky hailed this as “true justice,” emphasizing that Russia should bear the cost of its war.
Following their meeting, Starmer engaged with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a European summit in London on Sunday. The gathering, attended by key European leaders and NATO officials, will focus on strengthening Europe’s defence amid concerns over US disengagement.
Meanwhile, fighting continues in Ukraine, with Russian drone strikes injuring civilians in Kharkiv. As diplomatic efforts unfold, European allies are rallying to reinforce Ukraine’s security amid uncertain US commitments.
