Zelenskiy in London to Rally Support Before Trump-Putin Peace Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited London on Thursday to strengthen European support ahead of a U.S.-Russia summit aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will take place on Friday in Anchorage, Alaska, and come at a critical point for Ukraine, which is facing battlefield setbacks and manpower shortages. Zelenskiy’s aim is to prevent any agreement that would involve ceding Ukrainian territory to Russia, which already controls about a fifth of the country.

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In meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Zelenskiy built on momentum from virtual discussions a day earlier with European leaders and Trump. Ukraine’s foreign minister described the talks as key to reinforcing “European and transatlantic unity” and stressed the need for “peace through strength.” Zelenskiy warned Trump that Putin was “bluffing” about wanting to end the war, but welcomed Trump’s openness to discussing post-war security guarantees for Ukraine. A source familiar with the matter said Trump acknowledged the U.S. role would be crucial for such guarantees to be effective. Meanwhile, Russian forces have advanced 9–10 km near Dobropillia in the Donetsk region, forcing Ukraine to commit reserves to stabilise the front line.

The Alaska summit will be Trump’s first face-to-face meeting with Putin since taking office. Trump has described it as “setting the table” for a quick follow-up that would also include Zelenskiy. However, Russia has signalled it will not shift from its long-standing position, demanding that Ukraine withdraw from four partially occupied regions and abandon its NATO membership ambitions  terms Kyiv calls surrender. Reports suggest Trump has floated the idea of a “land swap” within Ukraine, something Kyiv and its European allies reject as rewarding Russian aggression and risking further expansion into Europe.

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Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, head of the RDIF sovereign wealth fund, is expected to join the summit, having previously held talks with Trump’s special envoy about possible U.S.-Russia business cooperation. Trump’s agreement to the meeting followed weeks of frustration over Moscow’s resistance to his peace proposals.

While a Gallup poll found 69% of Ukrainians support a negotiated end to the war, most oppose major territorial concessions. With Russian advances continuing and diplomatic stakes high, Zelenskiy’s London visit is part of a final push to ensure Europe and the U.S. hold a united front. The outcome of the Alaska talks could set the stage for Ukraine’s future security and territorial integrity.