London: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street on Thursday, August 14, 2025, in a critical diplomatic engagement ahead of the planned Trump-Putin summit in Alaska on August 15. The talks aimed to strengthen the united stance of Ukraine and its allies, ensuring Kyiv’s direct involvement in any future peace negotiations concerning the war with Russia.
Zelenskiy’s London visit follows a series of high-level consultations with European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. During these discussions, European heads of state reiterated that Ukraine must remain central to any peace process and that international borders cannot be altered by force.
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its “unwavering” support for Ukraine, with Starmer stressing that any settlement must be fair, sustainable, and negotiated with Kyiv’s full participation. This position is reinforced by the “Coalition of the Willing,” a diplomatic initiative co-chaired by the UK, which focuses on delivering security guarantees, ceasefire mechanisms, and measures to deter renewed aggression.
The Alaska summit is expected to be a bilateral meeting between former US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, though the possibility of subsequent trilateral talks involving Ukraine has not been ruled out. Trump has signaled that Ukraine should have a say in any territorial discussions and warned of severe consequences for Russia if peace efforts fail.
Zelenskiy has maintained a cautious stance, warning both Trump and European leaders that Putin’s peace overtures are a bluff aimed at weakening Ukraine through continued pressure. He has emphasized that discussions about Ukraine’s future must involve Ukraine directly and that any ceasefire must be accompanied by credible guarantees to prevent further Russian aggression.
The London talks come at a pivotal moment, as Western allies seek to coordinate strategies ahead of the Alaska summit. The outcome of these engagements could shape the trajectory of negotiations and the broader prospects for ending the conflict on terms acceptable to Ukraine and its partners.