Paul Seddon and Rachel Muller-Heyndyk
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London on Monday as talks to end the war in Ukraine remain deadlocked. Zelensky will join French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for discussions in Downing Street.
Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said Ukraine’s security and self-determination would be “at the heart” of the leaders’ talks, calling US-led negotiations “really pivotal”. After three days of discussions in Miami, US President Donald Trump’s outgoing Ukraine envoy said a deal to end the war was “really close” but depended on Russia’s cooperation.
Negotiations are stalled over issues including the size of Ukraine’s army after the conflict and Russian control of the Donbas. “If we get those two issues settled, I think the rest of the things will work out fairly well,” US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told Reuters. “We’re almost there.” Monday’s in-person talks are the latest attempt by European allies to shape the effort to end the war.
Downing Street said the leaders would “focus on the ongoing peace negotiations and next steps” but gave no further detail. The White House has been pushing Kyiv and Moscow to agree to a multi-point plan, but there has been little sign of a breakthrough despite both sides engaging. Zelensky said he was “determined” to continue working with the US after speaking to Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
European leaders criticised early versions of the US plan as too favourable to Russia; the plan has been revised. Kyiv and its allies have proposed their own measures, including a European-led security force to police any peace deal, an idea Moscow has rejected. The original US draft drew criticism for accepting Russian demands on Nato involvement, limits on Ukraine’s army and control of the eastern Donbas. Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected the revisions.
Despite economic blows and battlefield losses, Putin has been unwilling to compromise on key points. He has said Russia would take the Donbas by force if Ukraine did not cede control; 85% of the region is currently held by Russia. “Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories,” he said in an interview with India Today.
While talks continue, Russia launched another large aerial bombardment across Ukraine overnight into Sunday. A day earlier, Russia struck Ukraine with 653 drones and 51 missiles, triggering air raid alerts nationwide. Macron offered his “full solidarity” to Ukraine amid the attacks and said he would “continue efforts with the Americans” to secure peace.
The US National Security Strategy unveiled last week did not consider Russia a threat to Europe; Moscow said the strategy matched its own vision and was a “positive step”. With further diplomatic talks ahead, EU officials have urged the US to preserve historic transatlantic ties. “This is the only reasonable strategy of our common security,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
