Photo: Justin Tallis - WPA Pool
He participated in the summit of European leaders organized by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and then met with King Charles III at the Sandringham residence.
What did European leaders agree on?
The main goal of the summit was to develop a "plan for how to stop the war," said its organizer, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
According to him, this plan will later be discussed with the United States and then "implemented together."
The participants of the meeting agreed on the following 4 steps:
- Continuing military assistance to Ukraine while the war is ongoing and increasing economic pressure on Russia;
- Any robust peace must ensure Ukraine's sovereignty and security and must include Ukraine at the negotiating table;
- If a peace agreement is reached, European leaders will work to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine in the future;
- A "coalition of volunteers" will be formed to protect Ukraine and ensure peace in the country.
Keir Starmer also confirmed the UK's commitment to support the efforts of European countries "with boots on the ground and planes in the air."
He emphasized that "Europe must sweat hard," while reminding that the agreement needs US support, stating: "I must be clear that we agree with Trump on the urgent need to establish a robust peace. Now we must implement this together."
"I do not share the views that the US is an unreliable ally; there are no two countries that have such close ties as we do," the Prime Minister said in response to media questions. According to him, the summit participants are well aware that "this is a plan being developed in conjunction with the US and with US support." "That's why I spoke with Trump last night," he said.
At a press conference following the summit in London, the British Prime Minister stated that the leaders agreed to meet again soon to "maintain the momentum" and continue working on a common plan.
"Today we stand at a crossroads in history. Now is not the time for excessive talk — it is time to act to achieve a fair and robust peace and unite around a new plan," he said.
Work on the best, prepare for the worst
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the summit of European leaders in London as a "good and open discussion."
According to her, the leaders discussed the need for comprehensive security guarantees for Kyiv, including ensuring that Ukraine is in a strong position and providing it with the means to "strengthen and protect" that position.
The head of the Euro Commission stated that the discussion is about both the economic and military stability of Ukraine.
Von der Leyen added that "it is necessary to strengthen defense and take significant steps forward," emphasizing the need for a clear plan from the European Union and a pan-European approach.
"It is very important for us to increase spending in the field of security now; it is crucial to prepare for the worst," she said.
She also addressed US President Donald Trump from London, stating: "We are ready to work with you to defend democracy and uphold the rule of law that prohibits invading neighboring countries or changing borders by force."
"Preventing wars in the future aligns with our common interests," she added.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who participated in the meeting, also confirmed that many European countries need to increase their defense spending, which would "restore a fair balance with the US."
Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also participated in the summit. He offered Turkey as a venue for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
The leaders of the Baltic states were not invited to the summit. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologized to the presidents of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia during a video conference and promised to correct this mistake in future meetings, acknowledging the role of the Baltic states in supporting Ukraine.
"Europe has awakened." Reactions to the summit outcomes from leaders
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote that "Europe has awakened" at the conclusion of the European leaders' summit in London. According to Tusk, the participants were united on the need to assist Ukraine, the necessity of transatlantic cooperation, and strengthening the eastern border.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized that "peace in Ukraine cannot be temporary."
"We must be very cautious in assessing what is being proposed, especially in answering the fundamental question of whether this peace could be disrupted. Unfortunately, we have seen this happen in the past," said the head of the Italian government.
Germany's outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that the "transatlantic alliance" within NATO remains the "key to security" for the US, Canada, and Europe. He noted that in recent years the alliance has been "strengthened by new members and defense spending" and that this "must continue in the future."
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte emphasized that Europe "must play a greater role in ensuring continental security" and added that "good transatlantic relations are also necessary."
No suits in the presence of the King
During the meeting with King Charles III, Zelensky was again without a suit. Photo: PA Media
After the summit, Zelensky met with King Charles III of the United Kingdom. Journalists once again noted his attire — the Ukrainian president did not wear a suit this time, just as he did during his visit to the US.
Before and after the discussion in the Oval Office, this was criticized by Donald Trump himself and some journalists, who deemed it "disrespectful to the Oval Office."
However, commentators noted that King Charles III apparently saw no problem with this after the meeting.
