Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the official residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Downing Street, where he was personally greeted by the head of government, Keir Starmer. The meeting between the leaders took place on the eve of an important meeting of representatives from over 20 countries that are part of the so-called “coalition of the willing” regarding the strengthening of Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Main Topics of Discussion in London
After their personal meeting, Zelensky and Starmer joined other European leaders to discuss ways to further support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. According to British media, prior to his visit to the Prime Minister’s residence, Zelensky held a meeting with King Charles III.
It is expected that during the negotiations, Keir Starmer will urge partners to provide Ukraine with more long-range missiles and other military support to enhance the country’s defense capabilities. Some participants in the “coalition of the willing” joined the discussion via video conference.
International Support and New Sanctions Against Russia
Supporters of Ukraine are seeking to intensify political and diplomatic pressure on Moscow, trying to compel the Russian Federation to end the war or, at the very least, agree to establish a ceasefire regime, which the Russian Federation currently rejects.
The meeting in London took place against the backdrop of the failure of the European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels, where no compromise was reached regarding the use of frozen Russian state assets to fund Ukrainian needs. Major obstacles arose due to legal and technical concerns, particularly from Belgium, which holds the largest portion of these funds.
However, with Zelensky’s participation, EU leaders committed to “ensure coverage of Ukraine’s financial needs over the next two years,” stated European Council President Antonio Costa after the summit.
Zelensky’s visit to the United Kingdom occurred two days after the U.S. government imposed new sanctions against Russia for the first time since Donald Trump’s second presidential term began, specifically targeting the oil companies “Rosneft” and “Lukoil.”
The European Union also announced on October 23 the tightening of restrictions on financial transactions with “Rosneft” and “Gazpromneft,” as well as sanctions against Russian liquefied natural gas and restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats within the EU. The United Kingdom joined these measures last week, imposing sanctions against “Rosneft” and “Lukoil.”