Starmer and Zelensky to fulfill at Downing Avenue

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet in Downing Avenue on Saturday afternoon, No 10 has mentioned.

Zelensky arrived at Stansted Airport at roughly 11:20 GMT, after his White Home assembly with US President Donald Trump on Friday descended right into a row between the 2 leaders over US help for Ukraine.

In a press release posted on X, Zelensky mentioned of Trump: “Regardless of the powerful dialogue, we stay strategic companions. However we must be sincere and direct with one another to really perceive our shared objectives.”

His arrival within the UK comes a day earlier than Sir Keir hosts a summit of European leaders to debate an finish to the warfare between Ukraine and Russia.

What was meant to be a prelude to the 2 leaders signing a minerals deal devolved into an unprecedented public conflict within the Oval Workplace and noticed Trump accuse Zelensky of “playing with World Struggle Three”.

US Vice President JD Vance was additionally within the room and chimed in, asking whether or not the Ukrainian president had thanked the US for its assist.

Whereas Zelensky has thanked the US up to now, he did so once more in a string of X messages as he arrived within the UK. In a single, he mentioned that Ukraine was “very grateful” to the US for its help over the previous three years.

“America’s assist has been very important in serving to us survive, and I need to acknowledge that,” he mentioned.

“It is essential for us to have President Trump’s help. He desires to finish the warfare, however no-one desires peace greater than we do. We’re those residing this warfare in Ukraine. It is a combat for our freedom, for our very survival.”