UK, France, Germany Back Ukraine as Zelenskyy Pushes Unity With Europe and US
LONDON — On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with leaders from key European countries in London, calling on Europe, Ukraine and the United States to present a united front in ongoing negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
At 10 Downing Street, Zelenskyy sat down with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for talks that revolved around a U.S.-backed peace framework, security guarantees for Ukraine, and long-term European support. Zelenskyy said during the meeting, “there are things which we can’t manage without the Americans, … things which we can’t manage without Europe,” stressing that unity remains non-negotiable.
While discussions continue over details of the proposed peace plan — including security guarantees and how to uphold Ukraine’s territorial integrity — European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to support Kyiv. Macron described the meeting as a step toward shaping a “just and lasting peace,” and all sides committed to cooperating closely before any agreement is presented to the U.S. side.
Zelenskyy’s trip to London comes after several days of talks with U.S. envoys and negotiations in Miami and Geneva, as Kyiv navigates pressure from Washington to accept a settlement. As he moves to consolidate backing in Europe, he aims to ensure any deal preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty and permanence of security protections.
For Kyiv, the stakes are high. With the war’s fourth year underway, Zelenskyy and his European allies view coordinated diplomatic pressure — combining American influence and European solidarity — as the best chance to steer negotiations toward a resolution that neither rewards Russian aggression nor undermines Ukrainian independence.
