Key facts
- King Charles III will receive Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for an audience on Wednesday.
- Zelenskyy will also meet British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
- The visit follows renewed tensions over Donald Trump's approach to Russia and Ukraine.
- Trump recently criticized Zelenskyy's leadership and struck a deal with Moscow to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports.
- Britain will deliver £45 million of surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine.
- Britain will implement a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
Britain is providing a royal welcome to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, with King Charles III set to receive him for an audience amid renewed tensions with Donald Trump's White House. This marks the latest instance of the monarch championing the Ukrainian leader during a critical period.
Zelenskyy announced on X that he would meet King Charles and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham during his visit to the U.K. The monarch had previously hosted Zelenskyy at Sandringham in March 2025, shortly after Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly criticized the Ukrainian leader. Earlier this year, King Charles also hosted Zelenskyy at Windsor Castle following a joint statement from Ukraine, the U.K., France, and Germany advocating for a "just and lasting" peace deal with Russia.
Upon arrival at Downing Street, Zelenskyy will be greeted by a ceremonial guard from No.12 Company The Irish Guards, a detail described by a No. 10 spokesperson as unprecedented. The visit occurs against a backdrop of fresh strains related to Trump's stance on Russia and Ukraine, particularly after he criticized Zelenskyy's leadership and brokered a deal with Moscow to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports. This is Zelenskyy's first visit to a European capital since Trump's announcement and his second meeting with Burnham.
Burnham has so far refrained from condemning Trump's deal with Russia, stating on Wednesday his intention to "try and repair bridges so that the support comes back." In a statement released by Downing Street, Burnham emphasized the U.K.'s "rock-solid support to Ukraine" as vital for national safety and for equipping frontline forces. He conveyed a clear message to the Ukrainian people: "we are with you for as long as it takes, and we will go further and faster in our support to back your courageous fight for peace in Europe."
Downing Street also indicated that the U.K. prime minister has directed ministers to develop proposals for additional sanctions, military aid, and fiscal packages to support Ukraine in the coming weeks. Specifically, Britain is set to deliver £45 million worth of surface-to-air missiles and impose a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. Furthermore, the U.K. will expedite the delivery of over 5,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles to Ukraine within the next four years, backed by £1.6 billion in funding.