Volodymyr Zelenskyy met the leaders of the UK, France and Germany in London on Monday, as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Kyiv to cede territory to Russia to end the war quickly. The talks followed several days of US-Ukraine negotiations described by Zelenskyy as 'constructive, although not easy'.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted he would not pressure Zelenskyy to accept a peace settlement, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed 'scepticism' over the US proposal. Starmer said the push for peace was at a 'critical stage' and stressed the need for 'a just and lasting ceasefire'.
US President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that Zelenskyy had not read the proposal, adding without evidence that 'his people love it'. However, recent polling by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology indicates a majority of Ukrainians oppose territorial concessions.
A Ukrainian official familiar with the talks said territory remained the most problematic issue, adding that the US was pressuring for a quick deal but Ukraine could not agree without working out details. The official noted that Vladimir Putin does not want an agreement without territorial gains.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was expected in Washington on Monday to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with both sides reaffirming commitment to a peace deal. The European talks follow the publication of a US national security strategy that the Kremlin said was largely in line with Moscow's vision.
