Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit London’s Downing Street on Monday for a face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The direct meeting comes as a display of support for war-hit Ukraine to discuss US efforts to reach a peace agreement after Russia launched another round of massive attacks.

Macron announces European leaders meeting with Zelenskyy

Macron announced the meeting in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday in which he condemned the latest Russian strikes on energy and rail infrastructure in Ukraine. He underscored that Europeans will necessarily serve as an important pillar of the just and lasting solution.

“I just exchanged with President Zelenskyy. I reiterated our condemnation and our solidarity following the new Russian strikes. I shared what my latest international discussions, particularly in China, have helped to clarify and advance. France is determined to act with all to obtain de-escalation measures and impose a ceasefire. We will continue our coordination on Monday in London with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Friedrich Merz in light of the recent discussions between Ukrainians and Americans,” the French President said.

What’s at stake?

The purpose of the meeting is to extend European countries’ support to Ukraine and discuss the US draft peace deal. In a separate post, Macron warned that Russia is ‘locking itself into an escalatory path’ and he firmly condemns Moscow’s massive strikes on Ukraine last night. “For what is at stake in Ukraine is also the security of Europe as a whole.”

“We must continue to exert pressure on Russia to compel it to choose peace. I will travel to London on Monday to meet with the Ukrainian President, the British Prime Minister, and the German Chancellor, in order to take stock of the situation and the ongoing negotiations within the framework of the U.S. mediation. Ukraine can count on our unwavering support,” he wrote in a post on X.

Starmer to meet France, Ukraine, German leaders to…

Notably, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to capitalize on the meeting with the leaders from France, Ukraine, and Germany to discuss the ongoing talks between American and Ukrainian officials focused on reaching a pact to ensure Kyiv’s postwar security.

The four leaders attended a virtual meeting of the “coalition of the willing” two weeks back. In the meeting, they discussed plans to offer a European peacekeeping force that could be deployed to Kyiv in case of a ceasefire.