Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to chair a high-level diplomatic summit at Downing Street on Monday, bringing together Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
High-Stakes Diplomacy Amid Stalled Peace Efforts
The urgent, last-minute gathering comes as efforts to broker an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, soon to enter its fourth year, have reached a critical juncture. The leaders are expected to focus on devising a new peace plan and discussing potential security guarantees for Ukraine after the conflict, as reported by The Guardian.
This face-to-face meeting follows a virtual conference of the so-called "coalition of the willing" roughly two weeks ago, where the same four figures reportedly debated plans for a potential European peacekeeping force that could deploy to Ukraine if a ceasefire is achieved.
Rejection of US-Backed Proposal Creates Rift
The Downing Street talks occur against a backdrop of significant tension over a US-orchestrated peace initiative. European leaders and President Zelensky have expressed deep reservations about a 28-point plan initially tabled by Washington.
This proposal, reportedly drafted by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin's adviser Kirill Dmitriev, included demands viewed as excessively harsh and threatening to Ukrainian sovereignty. Key points involved:
- Limiting the size of the Ukrainian army.
- Requiring Ukraine to withdraw from cities it controls in the eastern Donbas region.
- A pledge from Ukraine not to seek NATO membership.
The plan was rejected by Kyiv and European capitals, who jointly pushed for revisions. Ukraine subsequently made significant amendments, which Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former President Trump's son-in-law, then discussed with Vladimir Putin during a five-hour meeting last week.
Moscow ultimately rejected the deal, with Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov stating there was "still a lot of work to do." The impasse continues, with Russia reportedly unwilling to accept any agreement that does not grant it control of the remainder of Donetsk province.
Mounting Pressure and Continued Conflict
The diplomatic friction was highlighted by leaked transcripts of a call between Macron and Zelensky, published by Germany's Spiegel magazine. In them, President Macron allegedly warned, "There is a risk that the United States will betray Ukraine on the issue of territory without clarity on security guarantees." Chancellor Merz is also reported to have accused Trump and his negotiating team of "playing games" with EU leaders and Zelensky.
Meanwhile, the brutal reality of war continues. On Friday night, Russia launched a massive assault on Ukraine's infrastructure, firing 653 drones and 51 missiles overnight. Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted 585 drones and 30 missiles. President Putin has reiterated his commitment to conquering Ukrainian land, starkly stating, "All this boils down to one thing: Either we take back these territories by force, or eventually Ukrainian troops withdraw."
Domestically, President Zelensky's government is grappling with a major corruption scandal linked to the energy sector, allegedly involving $100 million (£75m). This has led to the resignation of several high-profile figures, including his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.
The Downing Street summit represents a pivotal moment for European-led diplomacy, as leaders strive to find a unified path forward amid complex international tensions and unrelenting violence on the ground.
