Starmer And Zelenskyy To Meet Downing Street As Trump Fallout Looms Over UK’s High-Stakes European Summit

<p>British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Downing Street on Saturday afternoon, No 10 confirmed. Zelenskyy&rsquo;s visit comes after a contentious White House meeting with United States President Donald Trump on Friday, which escalated into a heated exchange over US support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia. &nbsp;</p>
<p>The Ukrainian president arrived at Stansted Airport at around 11:20 GMT, following his meeting with Trump that saw the US leader accuse him of “gambling with World War Three” and demand greater gratitude for American aid. &nbsp;</p>
<p>King Charles is expected to talk to Zelenskyyy at his Sandringham estate on Sunday, according to The Sun newspaper.</p>
<p>Sunday&rsquo;s European summit in London, hosted by Starmer, aims to discuss efforts to bring the war to an end and address Europe’s evolving defence strategy, BBC reported. However, the meeting is now expected to be overshadowed by the fallout from Washington, particularly as Trump has signalled a reluctance to provide military backing for a Ukraine peace deal and is reportedly considering cutting aid altogether. &nbsp;</p>
<p>In recent weeks, Starmer has positioned himself as a key intermediary between the US and Europe, engaging in discussions with both Trump and Zelenskyy to secure security guarantees for Ukraine. Following Friday&rsquo;s Oval Office row, he spoke to both leaders, reiterating the UK’s “unwavering support for Ukraine,” according to No 10. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Despite tensions with Trump, Zelenskyy sought to maintain diplomatic ties, stating, “Despite the tough dialogue, we remain strategic partners. But we need to be honest and direct with each other to truly understand our shared goals.” &nbsp;</p>
<p>Upon landing in the UK, he underscored the need for American backing, writing on social media: “It’s crucial for us to have President Trump’s support. He wants to end the war, but no one wants peace more than we do. We are the ones living this war in Ukraine. It’s a fight for our freedom, for our very survival.” &nbsp;</p>
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<h3><strong>Starmer Proposes Deploying British Troops To Ukraine</strong></h3>
<p>As the US signals a retreat from European security matters, Starmer has proposed deploying British troops to Ukraine as part of a European peacekeeping force&mdash;an idea that would require US security backing, as per BBC. Meanwhile, European leaders are acknowledging the need to boost their own defence capabilities, though experts warn that the UK’s military may not currently be prepared for an expanded role. &nbsp;</p>
<p>More than a dozen European leaders will attend Sunday&rsquo;s summit, including outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish President Donald Tusk, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and European Council President Ant&oacute;nio Costa. &nbsp;</p>
<p>The summit also follows growing European concerns over Trump&rsquo;s stance on Ukraine. The European Union&rsquo;s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, remarked on Saturday that “it has become clear that the free world needs a new leader. It is up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.” &nbsp;</p>
<p>Germany&rsquo;s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, also reaffirmed his support for Ukraine, stating: “We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war.” &nbsp;</p>
<p>Additionally, Donald Tusk confirmed that a special European Commission defence package would be announced on 6 March, indicating a push for greater military preparedness in response to shifting US policies.</p>