UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer gave a “very, very warm” welcome to Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Downing Street on Saturday, just a day after the Ukrainian President’s heated exchange with US President Donald Trump at the White House.
As Zelenskyy’s convoy arrived, crowds of supporters erupted in cheers. Starmer welcomed him with hugs and handshakes, before the two leaders posed for photographs and headed inside for discussions.
Inside Number 10, Starmer told the Ukrainian president, “You’re very, very welcome here in Downing Street.”
“And as you’ve heard from the cheers street outside, you have full backing across the United Kingdom, and we stand with you with Ukraine for as long as it may take,” he continued.
That is the people of the United Kingdom showing their unwavering support for you, “and our absolute determination to stand with you – unwavering determination – and to achieve what we both want to achieve, which is a lasting peace,” he added.
Starmer expressed their shared goal of achieving “a lasting peace for Ukraine, based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine — so important for Europe and so important for the United Kingdom”.
Zelensky acknowledged the crowds of supporters gathered outside Downing Street, expressing gratitude for the UK’s unwavering backing.
“Really, I saw a lot of people, and I want to thank you, people of the United Kingdom, such big support from the very beginning of this war, thank you, your team,” he added.
“I’m very happy that his majesty the king accepted my meeting tomorrow and we are very happy in Ukraine that we have such a strategic partner,” the Ukrainian President continued.
“We count on your support,” he added.
The discussion between the two leaders lasted approximately 75 minutes behind closed doors, ending with an embrace as Starmer accompanied Zelensky to his vehicle.
This meeting followed heated exchanges the previous day between Trump and Vance on the US side and Zelenskyy, which resulted in the Ukrainian president being asked to leave the White House before any formal discussions could begin.
As part of his UK visit, Zelenskyy is also set to meet King Charles on Sunday, the same day the British PM will host a defence summit with European leaders in London.
