LONDON/KYIV June 7 (Reuters) – Britain’s Keir Starmer welcomed Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the leaders of Germany and France to Downing Street on Sunday for talks on European support for Ukraine and stepping up efforts to bring an end to the war.
“The main focus is our defence in the war, greater cooperation for the security of all of Europe in the area of air defence, and our shared view of diplomatic prospects,” Zelenskiy wrote on X when he arrived in Britain.
“Europe must be part of the negotiations and must be strong.”
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were welcomed at the door of Number 10 by Starmer before Zelenskiy’s arrival.
Britain, France and Germany have an informal security alliance called the E3, which has become one of Ukraine’s main international supporters.
Macron said on Friday the Europeans could help Ukraine and Russia build both a ceasefire and a peace plan.
Both sides, however, have accused the other of refusing to compromise.
Zelenskiy published an open letter on Thursday proposing face-to-face talks with Vladimir Putin about ending the war, which is now in its fifth year, but he was rebuffed by the Russian president.
In his letter, Zelenskiy said Russians had grown tired of Ukrainian missile and drone attacks, high inflation and fuel shortages, and were ready for peace.
Putin said the offer did not come across as sincere and he currently saw no point in meeting, adding an agreement “for the long term” was needed.
The Russian leader stuck to his hardline stance on the war in a meeting with international media on Thursday, but he also said U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposals for peace could end the fighting if Kyiv were ready to compromise.
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