Volodymyr Zelenskyy is heading to Downing Road as soon as once more, however Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer shall be eager to make this assembly greater than only a picture op.
On Monday the PM will welcome not solely the Ukrainian president, but additionally E3 allies France and Germany to debate the state of the conflict in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will be a part of Sir Keir in exhibiting solidarity and help for Ukraine and its chief, nevertheless it’s the replace on the peace negotiations that would be the predominant focus of the meet up.
The 4 leaders are stated to be set to not solely focus on these talks between Ukraine, the US and Russia, but additionally to speak about subsequent steps if a deal had been to be reached and what which may seem like.
Forward of the discussions, Sir Keir spoke with the Dutch chief Dick Schoof the place each leaders agreed Ukraine’s defence nonetheless wants worldwide help, and that Ukraine’s safety is significant to European safety.
However whereas Russia’s conflict machine exhibits no indicators of abating, a heat welcome and sort phrases will not be sufficient to fulfill the embattled Ukrainian president at a time when Russian drone and missile assaults proceed to bombard Kyiv.
Mr Zelenskyy held a name on Saturday with US President Donald Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
“The American representatives know the basic Ukrainian positions,” Mr Zelenskyy stated in his nightly video handle. “The conversation was constructive, although not easy.”
In the meantime, Mr Trump’s outgoing Ukraine envoy has stated a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is “really close”.
Keith Kellogg, who is because of step down in January, advised the Reagan Nationwide Defence Discussion board that efforts to resolve the battle had been in “the last 10 metres”, which he stated had been at all times the toughest.
Mr Kellogg pinpointed the way forward for the Donbas and Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant as the 2 predominant excellent points.
However Russia has signalled that “radical changes” are wanted to the US-Ukraine peace plan earlier than it’s acceptable to Moscow.
Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s prime international coverage aide, was quoted by Russian media as saying the US must “make serious, I would say, radical changes to their papers” on Ukraine.
