Keir Starmer engaged in discussions with Volodymyr Zelensky today as the Ukrainian leader geared up for vital in-person meetings with Donald Trump. Trump and Zelensky are set to address the ongoing four-year conflict between Moscow and Kyiv at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Ahead of the Mar-a-Lago meeting, Trump mentioned a productive phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on his social media platform, Truth Social.
While flying to Florida, Zelensky conversed with Starmer, who has been collaborating with European allies to form a Coalition of the Willing. This coalition is committed to overseeing any potential peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv. Zelensky expressed gratitude to Starmer for their ongoing coordination. He further shared details of their discussions regarding the upcoming meeting with Trump and interactions with European partners.
A spokesperson from Downing Street confirmed that the UK Prime Minister spoke with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, reaffirming the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine and its pursuit of a fair and enduring peace. Both leaders condemned Russia’s aggressive and unlawful invasion, along with the recent assault on Kyiv. They praised ongoing diplomatic initiatives and Trump’s involvement in securing peace, committing to maintaining close communication in the days ahead.
Zelensky, following intensive diplomatic calls with European leaders, emphasized the possibility of significant decisions before the New Year. He urged allies to continue pressuring Russia to face the consequences of their aggression amid continuous attacks on Ukrainian territories. Over the Christmas period, he reported extensive attacks by the Kremlin’s military, targeting civilians and critical infrastructure.
Despite recent attacks in Kyiv, Zelensky proceeded to Florida for discussions with Trump on a 20-point proposal to resolve the conflict. He expressed optimism about the preparedness of a peace plan and anticipated talks on economic agreements and territorial issues. Notably, the peace plan includes a US commitment resembling NATO’s Article 5, ensuring a collective military response to any attack on Ukraine. However, sensitive details, particularly regarding territorial concessions, remain to be finalized during their discussions.
Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, alleged that Kyiv and European backers were unwilling to engage constructively in talks, suggesting a readiness for conflict. Zelensky and Trump, meeting after their last encounter in October, aim to address critical aspects of the peace plan to bring an end to the bloody conflict.