Keir Starmer met with Volodymyr Zelensky today ahead of the Ukrainian President’s upcoming discussions with Donald Trump. The meeting between Trump and Zelensky, set to take place at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, aims to address the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kyiv. Prior to this meeting, Trump announced on Truth Social that he had a productive phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky, who has been working closely with European allies to form a Coalition of the Willing, engaged in discussions with Starmer as he arrived in Florida. Expressing gratitude for Starmer’s continuous coordination, Zelensky shared details of his morning phone call with the UK Prime Minister. They talked about preparations for the meeting with Trump, ongoing engagements with European partners, the frontline situation, and the impact of Russian attacks.
A spokesperson from Downing Street confirmed that the UK Prime Minister had a conversation with Ukrainian President Zelensky, reiterating the UK’s firm support for Ukraine and its commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace. Both leaders condemned Russia’s aggressive invasion and recent attacks on Kyiv, while welcoming diplomatic efforts and acknowledging Trump’s involvement in peace negotiations. They agreed to maintain close communication in the days ahead.
In his diplomatic efforts, Zelensky emphasized the urgency of pressuring Russia to face the consequences of its aggression and highlighted the continuous attacks on Ukrainian cities. He reported significant numbers of attack drones, aerial bombs, and missiles launched by Russia over the Christmas period, causing harm to civilians and critical infrastructure.
Despite ongoing hostilities, Zelensky traveled to Florida for talks with Trump to discuss a proposed 20-point plan to end the conflict. The peace plan, nearing completion, includes economic agreements, territorial issues, and a potential US commitment similar to NATO’s Article 5 for collective defense. However, sensitive details such as territorial concessions remain unresolved and will be addressed during the leaders’ discussions.