European leaders have voiced their continued support for Ukraine while expressing reservations regarding specific details of a proposed U.S. plan to end the conflict with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his firm stance against ceding any territory to Russia.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz convened with President Zelenskyy in London for approximately two hours. This meeting followed claims from U.S. President Donald Trump that Zelenskyy had not been fully briefed on his latest proposal, the specifics of which remain undisclosed.
Chancellor Merz initiated the meeting by stating his “doubts” concerning “certain details we observe in the documents originating from the United States,” without specifying which documents he was referencing. President Macron appeared to echo this sentiment, asserting that the “primary issue” lies in “aligning our shared positions – between Europeans, Ukrainians, and the United States.” He emphasized that European nations are preparing robust security guarantees for Ukraine, alongside reconstruction measures.
President Zelenskyy affirmed that under no circumstances, legally or morally, should any territory be conceded to Russia within any agreement. He revealed that national security advisors from Europe and Ukraine are collaborating on the latest version of a plan, scheduled to be submitted to Washington tomorrow.
The Ukrainian President stressed that U.S. security assurances must not be empty promises but legally binding commitments ratified by Congress. He noted that some European leaders harbor reservations regarding Washington’s leadership in negotiations, while acknowledging the U.S. as a strong partner and President Trump’s commitment to ending the war.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine requires $800 million for its U.S. arms procurement program this year. He also reported the sighting of unidentified drones near his aircraft en route to Ireland. Following the London meeting, Zelenskyy is scheduled to travel to Brussels for discussions with officials from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union.
Prior to the meeting, local media quoted Prime Minister Starmer as stating that he would not exert “pressure on the President” Zelenskyy, adding that “the most important thing is to reach a cessation of military actions, I hope that happens, and that it is done fairly.”
