Zelenskyy and Starmer embraced outside 10 Downing Street but did not make public remarks. After about an hour of talks, the two shook hands again as Zelenskyy departed.

Zelenskyy’s visit to London followed a virtual conference the previous day with U.S. President Donald Trump and leaders from several European nations. During those discussions, Trump reportedly emphasised that securing a ceasefire in Ukraine would be a top priority in his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

There are ongoing concerns among Ukrainian and European leaders that a deal between Washington and Moscow could sideline Kyiv’s interests or favour Russia. Nevertheless, officials like Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz and France’s President Emmanuel Macron described the virtual discussions as constructive. Trump warned that Russia would face “very severe consequences” if Putin refuses to agree to end hostilities.

The Kremlin confirmed that Friday’s summit in Alaska would begin at 11:30 a.m. local time, with one-on-one discussions followed by broader talks involving both delegations. A working breakfast is also planned. Putin, in a briefing with senior officials, acknowledged efforts by the Trump administration to resolve the conflict and said progress could also be made on nuclear arms control.

Starmer called the summit “hugely important” and a possible step toward peace but noted European unease about any potential agreement that might force Ukraine to give up territory. He emphasised that any peace plan must respect Ukraine’s borders and sovereignty.

During a separate call among nations prepared to help enforce any future peace deal, Starmer stressed that Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be preserved. He stated, “International borders cannot be, and must not be, changed by force.”

Ukraine has long called for binding security guarantees from Western partners as a condition for any long-term peace, but many allied governments remain reluctant to deploy troops. Countries like the U.K. and France have been seeking stronger U.S. security commitments in this regard.

Macron said Trump acknowledged that while NATO may not play a direct role in future guarantees, the U.S. and other involved parties should be part of the security framework. Trump did not publicly confirm any specific commitments during his remarks to reporters.

With yet another major diplomatic meeting approaching, many Ukrainians remain doubtful that the talks will yield meaningful results. Oleksandra Kozlova, a Kyiv resident, said she no longer expects real change. “There have already been enough meetings and negotiations promising us that the war will end. Unfortunately, this hasn’t happened.”

Another Kyiv resident, Anton Vyshniak, said that saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers should take priority, even if it means making difficult territorial compromises. “Borders are borders, but human lives are priceless,” he said.

Separately, Zelenskyy announced that 84 individuals, including both soldiers and civilians, were freed from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange. Many of them have been in detention since as early as 2014 and are now in need of medical care and rehabilitation. Russia confirmed it also received 84 of its soldiers in the exchange.

Meanwhile, Russian strikes in Ukraine’s Sumy and Kherson regions caused multiple civilian injuries, including a young girl and a teenage boy. In Russia, a Ukrainian drone attack in the city of Rostov-on-Don injured 13 people and damaged residential buildings.

While Trump did not detail what form the consequences might take, he has previously indicated that economic penalties could be imposed if Friday’s summit with Putin fails to make progress.

Trump’s remarks came after a virtual meeting that brought together European leaders and Zelenskyy. Their joint call was seen as a coordinated effort to ensure Ukraine’s interests are not sidelined ahead of the Alaska summit. There have been concerns that the talks could result in territorial concessions at Ukraine’s expense.

Despite ongoing demands from Ukraine and its European allies, Russia has remained firm on its position, unchanged since Putin outlined it in June 2024.

When asked directly if Russia would face penalties for rejecting peace efforts, Trump replied, “Yes, they will.” Pressed on whether these would include tariffs or sanctions, he declined to give specifics, saying only that the response would be “very severe.”

Trump also emphasised that the purpose of the upcoming meeting is to lay the groundwork for a broader negotiation. If the first meeting goes well, he said he’s prepared to move quickly to a second, involving both Zelenskyy and Putin.

“I’d like the second meeting to happen almost immediately,” Trump stated, though no timeline has been set.

Red Lines and European Support

The earlier virtual discussion, organised by Germany, was aimed at presenting a united front and defining non-negotiable points ahead of the Alaska meeting.

Describing the call as “very friendly,” Trump said it included both Zelenskyy and European heads of state. French President Emmanuel Macron noted that Trump agreed any decisions about Ukrainian territory must include Ukraine’s leadership. Zelenskyy also confirmed that Trump backed the idea of long-term security guarantees for Ukraine once the conflict ends.

Macron said Trump made clear that securing a ceasefire in Alaska was the U.S. priority. He also reinforced the principle that any discussion of Ukraine’s borders must involve Zelenskyy directly.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasised that no peace deal should legitimise the use of force to change borders. He called for increased pressure on Moscow if Friday’s talks do not yield results.

“If Russia doesn’t shift its position in Alaska, both the U.S. and Europe must step up the pressure,” Merz said. “Trump understands this well, and our conversation was very constructive.”

High-Stakes Negotiation

The Trump-Putin meeting will address the war that has raged for more than three years, making it the largest European conflict since World War II. Trump has previously hinted that ending the war might involve territorial compromises, a stance that has raised concerns in Kyiv.

Recently, Russian troops made significant advances in eastern Ukraine, likely aimed at increasing leverage ahead of the talks. These gains could strengthen Russia’s bargaining position and raise fears that a peace deal might lock in those gains.

Zelenskyy, who traveled to Berlin to take part in the day’s virtual meetings, told allies that Putin’s peace talk is a bluff. “He’s trying to ramp up pressure ahead of Alaska. Russia wants to show it can overrun the entire country,” Zelenskyy said.

A source familiar with the discussions noted that the U.S. and allies have already begun considering possible cities to host a future three-way summit, contingent on progress in Alaska.

While cautious not to criticise Trump publicly, European leaders have consistently insisted that Ukraine must be at the table and that no decisions should be made without its full involvement.

Trump’s agreement to hold the Alaska summit followed a period of tension with Putin over stalled diplomatic efforts. He said his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, made meaningful strides in Moscow, prompting the decision to move forward.

Public sentiment in Ukraine reflects a desire for peace, with a recent Gallup poll showing 69% support for a negotiated end to the conflict. However, most Ukrainians oppose any settlement that would require major territorial concessions.

Meanwhile, Moscow’s position remains unchanged. Russian officials reiterated demands that Ukraine withdraw from four contested regions and abandon its pursuit of NATO membership as prerequisites for any ceasefire.