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UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to London on Monday, as efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine remain at an impasse. The meeting will also include French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, signaling a coordinated effort by European leaders to engage more directly in peace negotiations. This gathering comes at a critical juncture, as talks to end the war have yet to make significant progress.
Cabinet minister Pat McFadden emphasized that the discussions will prioritize Ukraine’s security and its right to self-determination. He described the ongoing US-led negotiations as being at a “really pivotal moment.” After a three-day meeting in Miami, the outgoing US envoy to Ukraine revealed that a deal to halt the conflict is “really close,” but its success depends heavily on Russia’s willingness to cooperate.
Key sticking points in the negotiations include determining the size of Ukraine’s military post-conflict and the future status of the Donbas region, currently under partial Russian control. US special envoy Keith Kellogg told Reuters, “If we get those two issues settled, I think the rest of the things will work out fairly well,” indicating the talks are nearing a resolution. The London meeting represents another attempt by Ukraine’s European allies to become more involved in the peace process. Downing Street confirmed the summit would focus on “ongoing peace negotiations and next steps,” although no detailed agenda was released.
Meanwhile, efforts led by the White House to broker a multi-faceted peace deal have not yielded a breakthrough, despite active participation from both Kyiv and Moscow. Zelensky expressed determination to continue collaboration with the US following discussions with Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy. European leaders have criticized earlier versions of the US peace plan for appearing too accommodating to Russian demands, prompting revisions. Among these are proposals for a European-led security force to oversee any peace agreement—a concept dismissed by Moscow.
The original US proposal faced backlash for accepting limitations on Ukraine’s military capabilities, restrictions on NATO involvement, and Russian control over parts of the eastern Donbas region. Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected these revised plans outright. Despite Russia’s economic difficulties and battlefield setbacks, Putin remains firm on key issues, declaring that Russia will seize the Donbas by force if Ukraine refuses to relinquish control. He stated in an interview with India Today, “Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories.” In the meantime, Russia continues its military campaign, launching heavy aerial attacks across Ukraine, including the deployment of hundreds of drones and missiles that triggered widespread air raid alerts.
In response to the ongoing assaults, Macron voiced his “full solidarity” with Ukraine and vowed to maintain cooperation with the Americans to pursue peace. At the same time, the recently published US National Security Strategy notably refrained from labeling Russia as a threat to Europe, a stance Moscow welcomed as aligning with its perspective. With more diplomatic efforts ahead, EU officials have called on the US to ensure that the historic security partnership between Europe and America remains strong. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk affirmed this view, saying, “This is the only reasonable strategy of our common security.
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