Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in London on Monday for discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. This meeting follows Zelenskyy's visits to Paris and Ireland, and aims to address the ongoing conflict with Russia.
U.S. Peace Plan and Ukraine's Response
The Trump administration previously introduced a 28-point peace plan. This proposal reportedly included limited security guarantees for Ukraine, calls for territorial concessions to Russia, a reduction in Ukraine's army size, and a block on its path to NATO membership. Ukraine has since introduced modifications to this agreement. President Zelenskyy reported a "very substantive and constructive" call with U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during recent peace deal talks in Miami, which concluded with limited immediate breakthroughs.
Simultaneously, Russia launched drone and missile strikes over Ukraine, impacting the energy grid and other infrastructure.
European Stance and Support
European leaders in London have stated their commitment to a peace plan that preserves Ukraine's territorial integrity and its ability to defend itself. European officials have increasingly linked Ukraine's security to the continent's overall stability.
French President Macron condemned Russia's recent attacks as "escalatory" and emphasized the need for Europe to continue working "with the Americans" to secure guarantees for Ukraine's lasting peace. However, Der Spiegel magazine reported that Macron privately cautioned Zelenskyy about a potential U.S. compromise on Ukrainian territory without clear security guarantees, citing a leaked note from a call with several European leaders. NPR has not independently verified this report.
Additional concerns have been raised following a new Trump administration national security strategy. This strategy signaled a potential end to security guarantees for Europe that have been in place since the end of World War II. The plan included criticisms of Europe and suggested the continent faced the "prospect of civilizational erasure" due to immigration. This has led to questions regarding future U.S. support for both Ukraine and Europe.
In response to these developments, European officials are exploring ways to increase support for Ukraine. These include scaling up weapons production, deepening Ukraine's ties to the EU, and investigating the use of frozen Russian assets to bolster Ukraine's defense and reconstruction. The latter option has faced resistance, particularly from Belgium, which holds a significant portion of the approximately €210 billion ($245 billion) in frozen Russian funds across Europe.
Russia's Position and Military Actions
Russia has maintained its demands, which Ukrainian officials have deemed non-starters, including recognition of occupied territories and long-term limits on Ukraine's security partnerships. Recent Russian military actions included hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles launched at Ukraine's energy grid and other infrastructure over the weekend, resulting in at least eight injuries and temporary power outages across several regions.
U.S. Policy Direction and Statements
Ukraine and European leaders have expressed concerns regarding future U.S. policy on the conflict. Donald Trump Jr., speaking at a conference in Doha, Qatar, suggested that his father might be prepared to disengage from Ukraine if the country does not accept a deal with Russia soon. Trump Jr., who holds no official White House role, also made critical remarks regarding President Zelenskyy. He stated that "Because of the war, and because he's one of the great marketers of all times, Zelenskyy became a borderline deity, especially to the left where he could do no wrong, he was beyond reproach." Trump Jr. added that his father's unpredictability "forces everyone to actually deal in an intellectually and honest capacity."