European leaders have called for increased support to Ukraine, describing the current moment as crucial to ending the conflict with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London on Monday to discuss a revised peace plan created by Ukrainian and U.S. officials.
The leaders agreed that stronger security guarantees for Ukraine remain essential, while the U.S. urges Kyiv to reach a swift deal with Moscow. Zelenskyy then travelled to Brussels to meet NATO officials and said Ukraine would share an updated plan with the U.S. shortly.
Last week, Ukrainian diplomats negotiated with the U.S. in Florida to amend a peace proposal seen as favourable to Russia. Zelenskyy confirmed that “most certainly anti-Ukrainian points have been removed” but admitted territorial issues remain unresolved with no compromise yet.
The U.S. suggests Ukraine withdraw from eastern regions partly occupied by Russian troops, in exchange for Russian withdrawal elsewhere and a ceasefire. Zelenskyy rejects this, warning it would reward aggression and enable future Russian attacks.
“Americans are inclined, in principle, to finding a compromise,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine’s demand for security guarantees to prevent future attacks is still unresolved.
The UK Prime Minister’s office said the leaders agreed on the need to “ramp up support to Ukraine and economic pressure on Putin to bring an end to this barbaric war,” highlighting the importance of U.S.-led talks for European security.
Starmer stressed the need for “hard-edged security guarantees,” while German Chancellor Merz expressed scepticism but emphasised dialogue. France pledged to intensify efforts on security guarantees.
Concerns grow in Kyiv and Europe about possible U.S. disengagement due to slow talks. “We can’t manage without Americans, we can’t manage without Europe,” Zelenskyy said.
Despite diplomatic efforts, progress is limited. A recent five-hour meeting between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin in Moscow yielded no significant breakthroughs. Subsequent talks in Miami resulted in cautious optimism.
U.S. President Donald Trump criticised Zelenskyy for not reading the new proposal, stating Putin “was fine with it.” Zelenskyy expects a briefing from his negotiator, noting “some issues can only be discussed in person.”
European allies seek a greater role in the U.S.-led peace process to protect their long-term interests. Russia continues to reject Ukraine joining NATO and Putin vowed to fight until full control of Donetsk and Luhansk is achieved.
Hostilities continue, with recent Russian attacks causing casualties across nine regions. Since February 2022, the conflict has caused thousands of deaths and injuries, with Ukrainian cities facing near-daily bombardments.