UK Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Zelenskyy: A Royal Welcome Amidst U.S. Political Turmoil

On Sunday, King Charles will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Sandringham. This audience comes as the UK and EU express strong support for Ukraine, especially after a tense moment during Zelenskyy’s recent visit to the White House, where he faced criticism from Donald Trump and JD Vance.

Labour leader Keir Starmer is organizing a special defense summit with European leaders, Canada, and Turkey to address the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The goal is to showcase a strong, united front.

After arriving in Downing Street for a meeting with Starmer, Zelenskyy expressed happiness about the royal meeting, seeing it as a sign of equal treatment compared to Trump, who had also received an invitation for a second state visit to the UK.

In a sign of the UK’s commitment, reports suggest that the government may release billions of pounds of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. This funding could mark the first time these assets are used for military spending.

The White House encounter sparked worries among European leaders about potential damage to the Western alliance. At the defense summit, Starmer is expected to emphasize the need for European unity against Russia’s President Putin.

Starmer remarked, “Three years after Russia’s invasion, we are at a turning point. Now is the time for us to unite to ensure the best outcome for Ukraine and protect European security.”

After landing in the UK, Zelenskyy aimed to mend any diplomatic damage by thanking the U.S. for its support on social media, particularly highlighting Trump’s assistance.

Despite the difficult meeting in the U.S., Zelenskyy received a warm welcome in London, greeted by cheering crowds. Starmer personally greeted him, showing solidarity with Ukraine. Inside No. 10, Starmer reassured him of the UK’s continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.

The upcoming summit will focus on enhancing military support for Ukraine and assessing how Europe can maintain NATO’s strength amid concerns about U.S. involvement in European defense waning. Leaders will also discuss increasing economic pressure on Russia.

King Charles previously met Zelenskyy in February 2023. During that visit, the king expressed his concern for Ukraine. Zelenskyy thanked the UK for its unwavering support, famously ending with a “God bless Great Britain and long live the king.”

In their prior meeting, Trump criticized Zelenskyy, accusing him of being ungrateful as tensions rose over a proposed peace deal with Russia that included trading Ukrainian mineral rights for U.S. arms.

Following the meeting with Starmer, Zelenskyy was seen off with support, a stark contrast to his earlier experience in the U.S. European leaders also plan to meet on Thursday to reinforce their commitment to peace efforts, emphasizing that any negotiations must include Ukraine.

As one EU diplomat noted, this moment serves as a crucial wake-up call for Europe to become more proactive in addressing the ongoing crisis.

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