Meeting with Zelensky on Thursday in London: Starmer prior to Trump-Putin Summit - Zelenskyy conferences with Starmer in London prior to Trump-Putin summit conference
In the wake of the Trump-Putin Summit on August 15, 2025, hopes for a ceasefire and peace negotiations in the Russo-Ukrainian War have been dashed. The summit, held in the US state of Alaska, ended without any agreement or concrete results, raising significant concerns among Ukraine and its Western allies.
The summit's primary focus was to discuss the ongoing conflict, yet it failed to produce agreements, leaving many apprehensive about potential compromises that could undermine Ukrainian sovereignty and security.
One of the main fears is that the United States and Russia might reach an unacceptable deal that pressures Ukraine into unfavorable concessions. These concerns include the possibility of Ukraine being forced to demilitarize or face a halt in Western weapon deliveries, weakening its defense capabilities.
Additionally, there are worries about interference in Ukraine’s domestic affairs, including potential constitutional reforms, pressure on Ukraine to surrender territory in the east without reciprocal Russian withdrawal or adequate security guarantees, premature lifting of sanctions against Russia without meaningful progress toward peace, reducing U.S. and NATO presence in Eastern Europe, and normalization of U.S.-Russia relations that excludes or bypasses Ukraine and European partners.
Ukraine and European states view these as non-negotiable "red lines" and are wary of any agreements reached without their direct involvement or consent.
Amid these concerns, Ukrainian President Zelensky met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) in Berlin on Wednesday. The agenda of this meeting remains undisclosed. On Thursday, Zelensky is scheduled to meet with British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer in London. The purpose of this meeting is also unspecified.
In response to the escalating conflict, Trump has again threatened Russia with "very severe consequences" if Russian attacks on Ukraine do not cease. Trump also hinted at a possible second meeting with Putin, which Zelensky could attend.
German Chancellor Merz, in an effort to address the potential impacts of the Trump-Putin meeting, arranged a series of video conferences with Zelensky and other heads of state. However, no information about the agenda of these conferences has been released.
Trump, in a positive note, expressed satisfaction with the virtual meeting with European leaders, yet he warned that there would be no further meeting if he "doesn't get the answers we need."
As the situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, the international community remains vigilant and engaged, striving to ensure the sovereignty and security of Ukraine.
[1] The New York Times [2] BBC News [3] The Guardian [4] The Washington Post
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