The King has met with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer about the ongoing war in Ukraine, while also sending a sneaky message to Donald Trump
The King has met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Windsor Castle ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at a Nato summit. Charles welcomed the leader to an audience, followed by lunch, at the Berkshire royal residence today.
The Nato summit, set to begin tomorrow, will see the two leaders discuss Ukraine ’s defences and new ways to increase pressure on Russia to end the war in the region, which has been raging since February 2022. During his meeting with King Charles, the Ukrainian president was dressed in a black blazer and black trousers, rather than his usual combat fatigues, for his trip to the castle.
Many have interpreted his choice of outfit as a subtle dig to US president Donald Trump, held an extraordinary meeting with Zelensky at the White House ealier this year – where he was cruelly mocked for his choice of clothes.
In the months after President Trump was re-elected, Zelensky was invited to an audience at the White House with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. As Mr Trump shook Mr Zelenskyy’s hand at the entrance to the West Wing, he said: “He is all dressed up today,” with Brian Glenn, who is the chief White House correspondent for right-wing website Real America’s Voice, later asking Mr Zelensky why he doesn’t wear a suit, accusing him of having a lack of respect for America.
“I will wear a costume when this war is finished,” the Ukrainian leader defiantly responded. “Maybe something like yours. Maybe something better. Maybe something cheaper.”
Today, as King Charles and Mr Zelensky made their way through Windsor Castle, they were pictured chatting and smiling as they shook hands in the Grand Corridor.
The King and the Ukrainian leader have met numerous times before including in March when Charles invited him to an audience at Sandringham in Norfolk, and last July at the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.
Mr Zelensky’s arrival in the UK follows reports that Russia fired 352 drones and 16 missiles at Ukraine overnight, killing at least 10 civilians including seven in Kyiv. Zelensky said preliminary reports indicated Russia had used North Korean missiles to attack Kyiv and described those two countries as a “coalition of murderers”.
His visit to London comes the day before Nato leaders are set to meet in The Hague, Netherlands, for a two-day summit, with increased defence spending top of the agenda. While Mr Zelensky has been invited to the summit but will not take part in its main discussions, and it is still unclear whether he will attend at all.
A spokesman for Downing Street said: “President Zelensky is visiting the UK today, ahead of the Nato summit in the Hague. You can expect the Prime Minister to host him in Downing Street this afternoon and reiterate our steadfast support for Ukraine.”
In a post on X, Zelensky said: “Today, during my visit to the United Kingdom, I will be discussing this very issue with our partners — our defence, which must become the foundation of a much stronger collective security. We will also be negotiating new and powerful steps to increase pressure on Russia for this war and to put an end to the strikes.”