Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met European leaders in London this Monday (12/8), in a gesture of show of force and political alignment after Donald Trump accused him of not reading the latest American proposal to end the war.
The meeting came after the Kremlin welcomed Washington’s new tougher stance on Europe.
Ahead of negotiations at Downing Street on “sensitive issues” – involving security guarantees for kyiv and the future of the occupied eastern regions. The Ukrainian said it was urgent for Europeans and Americans to show “unity” in the face of Russian aggression and in seeking a quicker end to the conflict.
“There are certain things that we cannot manage without the Americans, things that we cannot manage without Europe, and that is why we have to make important decisions,” the Ukrainian president said.
What is crucial today is unity between Europe and Ukraine, as well as unity between Europe, Ukraine and the United States. I am grateful to the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Germany – @Keir_Starmer, @EmmanuelMacronAnd @bundeskanzler – for the organization of the meeting… pic.twitter.com/BWXaodhdN3
– Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 8, 2025
Revised peace plan and diplomatic pressure
On a flight from London to Brussels, where he will meet NATO and European Union leaders, Zelensky said talks had progressed and a new version of the peace proposal – reduced from 28 to 20 points – would be sent to the United States on Tuesday (September 12).
According to him, elements considered “anti-Ukrainian” were removed from the text.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer received Zelensky alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. “We stand firmly behind Ukraine, because the destiny of this country is the destiny of Europe,” Merz said.
But since the publication of the Trump administration’s new national security strategy – a document that toughens the tone towards Europe and changes the framework towards Russia – fears have been growing of a weakening of American support for Ukraine’s defense.
And Trump, after meetings in Miami between American and Ukrainian emissaries, said he was “disappointed” by Zelensky who had not read the latest American proposal. According to him, Moscow would “agree” with this plan, but he was “not sure” that kyiv would agree.
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Zelensky and Starmer
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Zelensky and European leaders
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
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Donbass and caution with Washington
Zelensky countered that the United States has not yet reached an agreement on the future of Donbas and added that kyiv is seeking clearer security guarantees, particularly from its Western allies.
“If Russia starts a war again, what will our partners do? » asked Zelensky. He said decisions on topics such as European Union membership must also be discussed directly with the bloc.
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