Key points
- London calls it a sign of “unwavering support for Ukraine”
- Keir Starmer assures Zelensky his country’s support
- Zelensky lands in London after the acrimonious White House visit
LONDON: The United Kingdom (UK) and Ukraine on Saturday signed a loan agreement worth £2.26 billion to support Ukraine’s defence capabilities, which London called a sign of “our unwavering and ongoing support for the Ukrainian people”.
According to AFP, the two countries’ finance ministers, Rachel Reeves and Sergii Marchenko, signed the loan at a virtual ceremony as Prime Minister Keir Starmer met President Volodymyr Zelensky in London.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told Volodymyr Zelensky he has “full backing across the United Kingdom” as the two met in Downing Street, according to BBC.
The Ukrainian president told Keir Starmer he was happy his country had “such friends” after arriving in the United Kingdom in the wake of a White House meeting with US President Donald Trump that descended into a row between the two leaders.
Following the acrimonious White House visit, Zelensky has attempted to mend US ties, according to BBC. In a statement, President Zelensky said of Trump: “Despite the tough dialogue, we remain strategic partners. But we need to be honest and direct with each other to truly understand our shared goals.”
When his plane landed at Stansted, the Ukrainian leader wrote in a string of social media posts: “It’s crucial for us to have President Trump’s support. He wants to end the war, but no-one wants peace more than we do.
“We are the ones living this war in Ukraine. It’s a fight for our freedom, for our very survival.”
Trump later told Fox News that relations with the US could still be repaired despite the confrontation.
“Of course,” he said when asked whether ties with Trump’s administration could be repaired. “US-Ukrainian relations are about more than two presidents.”
Clash in Oval Office
The meeting between the two leaders, which took place on Friday, ended in a shouting match after Trump accused Zelensky of not showing enough gratitude for US military aid and of refusing to negotiate peace with Russia.
According to CNN, Trump told Zelensky that Ukraine must agree to a truce or risk losing Washington’s support.
“You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump reportedly said. “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”
US media outlets, including The New York Times, reported that Zelensky was asked to leave the White House early and that a planned minerals-sharing agreement, seen as crucial to a potential US-brokered peace deal, was left unsigned.
Trump later posted on Truth Social that “he can come back when he is ready for peace.”
Vice President JD Vance also criticised Zelensky during the meeting, accusing him of being “disrespectful” and unappreciative of US assistance, The Washington Post reported.
The public confrontation prompted a swift backlash from European allies, with key leaders reaffirming their support for Ukraine.
