London: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warmly welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to London on Saturday, a day after a tense exchange between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.
A large crowd had gathered outside the Prime Minister's office, applauding the Ukrainian leader as he arrived. "I hope you heard the applause in the street," Starmer told Zelensky. "This is the British people showing their support for you and our unwavering commitment to standing with Ukraine."
During their talks, Starmer reassured Zelensky of Britain’s steadfast support. "We stand with you and Ukraine for as long as it takes," he stated. Zelensky echoed the sentiment, emphasizing Britain’s full backing.
Zelensky, set to attend a meeting of European leaders in the UK to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine, described his discussions with Starmer as "important and warm," focusing on strengthening Ukraine’s position in negotiations with Russia and securing reliable security guarantees.
On his Telegram channel, Zelensky wrote: "During our talks, we addressed the challenges facing Ukraine and Europe. We discussed decisive steps to end the war justly, coordinate with our partners, and secure credible security guarantees."
Following the tense encounter at the White House, both UK and French leaders have spoken with Trump and Zelensky over the phone. The French presidency confirmed that Zelensky expressed willingness to restore dialogue with the U.S., though the White House has yet to comment.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently met with Trump in Washington, has also engaged in talks with Starmer, NATO Secretary-General, and the European Commission President.
After the dispute with Trump, Zelensky told Fox News he believed his relationship with the former U.S. president could improve, hinting at some level of regret over their exchange.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CNN that Zelensky should apologize for the confrontation.
In contrast, European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on social media: "The free world needs new leadership. Ukraine is Europe! We stand with Ukraine."
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured, "Ukraine can count on Germany and Europe," while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared, "Ukraine! Spain stands with you."
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also extended solidarity, stating, "Dear Zelensky, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone."
Amid these developments, a senior White House official noted that Trump is currently uninterested in discussing agreements on mineral resources with Ukraine.
