Mr Starmer – unusually – walked up Downing Street to greet Mr Zelensky from his motorcade – and the PM pulled his war ravaged counterpart into a warm embrace, before posing for pictures outside the black door of No10
Keir Starmer meets Zelenskyy with warm embrace at Downing Street
Volodymyr Zelensky was greeted by Keir Starmer with a hug as he arrived on Downing Street for a meeting this afternoon.
Ukraine’s President is visiting No10 a day earlier than anticipated, following the Oval Office bust-up last night. Mr Starmer – unusually – walked up Downing Street to greet Mr Zelensky from his motorcade. And the PM pulled his war ravaged counterpart into a warm embrace, before posing for pictures outside the black door of No10.
Mr Zelensky is now expected to visit King Charles at Sandringham tomorrow, after which he will attend a summit of European leaders, hosted by the PM in London. A No10 spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy will be meeting in Downing Street this afternoon.”
As they sat down inside Number 10, Mr Starmer said to Mr Zelensky: “There were cheers in the street outside. You have full backing across the United Kingdom and we stand with Ukraine for as long as it may take.
“I hope you heard the cheering in the street, that is the people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you, how much they support Ukraine.
“And our absolute determination to stand with you – unwavering determination – and to achieve what we both want to achieve, which is a lasting peace. A lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine. So important for Ukraine. So important for Europe. So important for the United Kingdom.
“Thankyou so much for making the time to come.”
Mr Zelensky appeared deeply moved by the sight of people cheering in the street outside.
“I want to thank you, people of the United Kingdom, such big support from the beginning of this war.”
He also thanked Mr Starmer and the King for accepting his request to meet tomorrow.
He praised the UK for signing a 100 year defence agreement with Ukraine, “something we don’t have with other countries.”
“We are happy,” he said. “And we count on your support. And we’re really, really happy that we have such partners and such friends.”
Mr Zelensky was expected to come to No10 tomorrow for a meeting ahead of a major summit of European leaders in London. Leaders from France, Gemany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania and others are expected to attend. Zelensky has said it is “very important” that Ukraine is “heard and not forgotten” after yesterday’s dramatic meeting with Donald Trump.
The Ukrainian president wrote on Telegram today: “People in Ukraine need to know that they are not alone, that their interests are represented in every country, in every corner of the world.” On Friday, Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelensky over the war in Ukraine, accusing him of not showing gratitude after he challenged Vance on the question of diplomacy with Russia ’s Vladimir Putin.
The argument in the Oval Office was broadcast to millions around the world, and led to the rest of Zelensky’s White House visit being cancelled just moments later. The fallout has also cast new doubts over how much the US will continue to support Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s invasion. Donald Trump has further criticised Zelensky in the hours since the meeting, mocking him as a “big shot” and claiming he did not “want peace”.
