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British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has hugged Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the steps of Downing Street as he began an attempt to strengthen Ukraine’s president after his explosive meeting with Donald Trump.
Starmer spoke with Trump and Zelenskyy by phone after rising Friday at the Oval office and called on them to resume talks, including completing a deal to allow the US to share some of Ukraine’s mineral resources, according to people informed about the conversations.
On Saturday Starmer gave a public show of support for Zelenskyy, who was greeted by cheering by public members while reached Downing Street, telling him he had the “full support” of the UK.
“You have heard the people of the UK who would go out to demonstrate how much they support you and that we are absolutely determined to stay with you,” Starmer said before private talks.
Zelenskyy’s reception at Downing Street was in noticeable contrast to his hostile encounter with Trump the day before at the White House. The President of Ukraine, who will meet King Charles on Sunday, told Starmer that “we rely on your support”.
Starmer will host 14 European leaders in London on Sunday in an effort to collect military and financial support for Ukraine, including providing aid to secure peace with Russia.
The British Prime Minister, who has already offered to place British troops on the ground in Ukraine after any ceasefire, hopes that some other European nations will follow the lawsuit, according to European diplomats.
Starmer will impress Zelenskyy during Saturday’s meeting that he must first unite relations with Trump and that any peace will not last if it is not guaranteed by the US, British officials said.
“The prime minister’s priority is to do whatever it takes to protect Ukraine,” said a Starmer ally. “This means that the US should be included. You have to fix that relationship and return to the mineral deal.”
France has also offered troops to help secure a peace in Ukraine; Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will use Sunday’s meeting to prove to galvanize a more European muscle response.
A British official suggested it was time for other European leaders to put their money where their mouths were: “What Ukraine needs is now a weapon and butter. There is no need for people who tweet and signal the virtue. “
Starmer wants Europe to put Ukraine in a strong position for talks with Russia – including the arming of Kyiv and the strengthening of Moscow sanctions – and drafting a plan applicable to secure any peace agreement.
The British prime minister held warm talks with Trump at the White House on Thursday-only 24 hours before Zelenskyy clashes with an angry US president and vice president JD Vance.
British officials do not believe Starmer’s efforts were in vain or that he was in any way played by the US president. One said: “Our relationship with the president is better than it was at the beginning of the week and that is important.
“What happened to Zelenskyy in the Oval office makes it even more important than ever the prime minister and Macron went to the White House.
“Ukraine needs weapons, food, long -term peace and security guarantees. And for that they need SH.BA people can tweet everything they like, but there is no other plan. “
Downing Street is waiting for those present at Sunday’s Summit to include Germany’s Olaf Scholz, Giorgia Meloni, Italy and Donald Tusk of Poland, as well as Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO.
The summit will take place in Lancaster House, a nineteenth -century residence near the Buckingham Palace in Central London. Starmer will also call on the leaders of the three Baltic states.
A French official said last week that the early indications were that the United Kingdom and France are likely to secure the largest contingents in any stabilization force, but there may be offers from some of the Baltic states and perhaps Sweden.
Germany and Poland, both supporting Ukraine, are among the countries that have so far offered not to send troops to the war country to help secure any peace agreement.
