Key facts
- UK, French, and German leaders met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London.
- European leaders supported direct talks between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire.
- Conditions for peace talks were discussed, including security guarantees and compensation for war damages.
- President Zelensky had a 'positive' conversation with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner regarding settlement efforts.
- Discussions also covered air defense cooperation and Europe's role in diplomatic efforts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany in London to discuss strategies for ending the ongoing conflict with Russia. The European leaders voiced support for a proposal involving direct dialogue between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to achieve a ceasefire, with Europe playing an active role alongside the U.S.
In a joint statement, Prime Ministers Keir Starmer (UK), Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Germany), and President Emmanuel Macron (France) commended Zelensky's call for a negotiated end to the war. Zelensky noted on social media that he had a "positive" conversation with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner regarding settlement efforts, praising their readiness to work on ending the war in the coming weeks.
Discussions also covered air defense cooperation and Europe's role in diplomatic efforts. Zelensky emphasized the importance of a strong European voice in negotiations, acknowledging that global attention remained focused on Iran but stressing that peace in Europe was on the agenda. He mentioned prospects for talks at the forthcoming G7 summit.