Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with European leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in London. These meetings occurred amidst US efforts to facilitate a swift peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
For Kyiv, primary considerations include potential territorial concessions to Russia as part of any peace deal and obtaining strong security guarantees to ensure the respect of an eventual agreement. Ahead of the London talks, Starmer reiterated that Ukraine requires "hard-edged security guarantees" and should determine its own future without imposed conditions.
The discussions in London addressed significant issues pertaining to Ukraine's future and broader European security. A concern among some is that if Russia were to gain Ukrainian territory as part of a peace deal, it could potentially encourage further actions against other European countries.
The US National Security Strategy, recently published, characterized European expectations regarding the war's resolution as "unrealistic." European leaders are reportedly concerned that a rapid resolution, potentially favored by the US, might not lead to lasting peace but rather a temporary pause in Russian aggression within Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe.
Recent incidents, including unmanned drones disrupting civilian airports in Germany, Denmark, and Belgium, an act of railway sabotage in Poland, and significant cyber-attacks across the continent, have been attributed to Russia. These events have increased European awareness of the conflict, fostering a perception that Russia seeks to weaken the continent.
Publicly, European leaders have largely continued to commend US efforts. Starmer stated that the US President had advanced peace negotiations further than in the preceding four years. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed skepticism regarding some details from the US side while emphasizing the necessity for discussion.