Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warmly welcomes Ukrainian
President Zelenskyy to Downing Street, ahead of a key coalition meeting to
discuss ongoing support.
The two leaders had a brief exchange ahead of their photo op
outside the black oval door on 10 Downing Street.
Zelenskyy made the London trip after meeting King Charles at
Windsor Castle, where he received an ostentatious welcome in the frame of a
royal salute and Ukrainian national anthem.
Starmer may press Russia to end the war while encouraging
partners to assist Ukraine to build its defenses and enhance long-range missile
production during ongoing negotiations with Zelenskyy, Dutch Premier Dick
Schoof, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and NATO Secretary General
Mark Rutte during Friday talks.
In addition to the aforementioned leaders, a group of around
20 more leaders are expected to join the meeting, which is being hosted by
Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in London.
Further efforts to cripple the economy supporting Vladimir
Putin's war will also be discussed - including ways to take Russian oil and gas
off the global market, and ways to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's
defenses.
Kicking off the meeting, the Prime Minister said:
“Volodymyr, it’s really good to be able to welcome you here in Downing Street
again for a really important meeting between the two of us, bilaterally, but
also for the coalition of the willing.”
"Through seeing His Majesty, through our meeting and
through the coalition of the willing, we reaffirm again our support for you and
Ukraine and our absolute commitment to meeting the challenge of Russian
aggression.”
He added: “I do think that this week we can really bear down
on Russian oil and gas. Huge steps forward this week already.
I think there’s further we can do on capability,
particularly… long-range capability, and of course, the vital work for the
coalition of the willing when it comes to the security guarantees that are
necessary.
We stand, as we’ve always stood, as your closest supporter
and ally.”
The meeting of the coalition of the willing comes after US
President Donald Trump’s plans for talks with Putin were put on hold, and he
imposed sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil firms, Rosneft and Lukoil.
Starmer said, “From the battlefield to the global markets,
as Putin continues to commit atrocities in Ukraine, we must ratchet up the
pressure on Russia and build on President Trump’s decisive action.
After all, Ukraine’s security matters to us all, and what
happens on the front line of Donetsk today is shaping our collective future for
years to come.”
By striking power stations, the Ukrainian leader has warned
that "Russia is actively trying to make the cold weather a weapon."
The prime minister will declare that an additional 140 air
defense missiles will be delivered this winter as part of an expedited
missile-building program in the United Kingdom.
The package is a component of the £1.6 billion agreement
reached in March between UK industry and Ukraine to supply over 5,000
lightweight multirole missiles, supporting 700 current positions at Thales in
Belfast and generating 200 new ones.
What are the coalition's concrete military aid proposals for
Ukraine?
A total of 35 countries, including 26 that have pledged to
emplace troops or give other forms of military support, will help Ukraine
rebuild its fortified forces without restrictions. The purpose is to strengthen
Ukraine's service so it can repel unborn attacks and
inhibit Russia from renewing conflict.
UK Prime Minister Starmer has supported supplying Kyiv
with fresh long range missiles to improve Ukraine’s descent and
protective capabilities during downtime. These bullet systems aim to fight
Russian bullet and drone attacks on Ukraine’s critical structure.
The coalition includes plans for furnishing high-
precedence air defense systems, drones, armored vehicles, snares,
security, and small arms. Billions of worth
worth of military equipment and inventories have been
committed, including from the US, Canada, and European nations.