Keir Starmer has described his meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “meaningful and warm”, according to Downing Street.
The British prime minister met the Ukrainian president on Saturday evening, just 24 hours after Zelenskyy’s meeting with the US president, Donald Trump, and vice-president, JD Vance, in Washington.
While Zelenskyy’s meeting with the US leaders had been fractious and tense, leading to him leaving the White House earlier than planned with the planned minerals deal between the US and Ukraine collapsing, his meeting with Starmer was very different.
The two had embraced as Zelenskyy arrived at No 10 and Starmer had told the wartime leader Ukraine had “full backing across the United Kingdom”.
On Saturday night, a No 10 spokesperson said: “The prime minister reiterated his unwavering support for Ukraine, adding that the UK will always stand with them, for as long as it takes.
“The prime minister restated his determination to finding a path that ends Russia’s illegal war and ensures a just and lasting peace that secures Ukraine’s future sovereignty and security.
“The leaders looked forward to continuing these discussions at tomorrow’s leaders’ summit in London.”
In a statement on X after their meeting, the Ukrainian president said: “During our talks, we discussed the challenges facing Ukraine and all of Europe, coordination with partners, concrete steps to strengthen Ukraine’s position, and ending the war with a just peace, along with robust security guarantees.
“A principled statement of support from the Prime Minister and an important decision: today, in our presence, Ukraine and the United Kingdom signed a Loan Agreement.”
The loan was signed by the UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and her Ukrainian counterpart, Sergii Marchenko.
The £2.26bn loan would “enhance Ukraine’s defence capabilities and will be repaid using revenues from frozen Russian assets”, Zelenskyy said. “The funds will be directed toward weapons production in Ukraine. This is true justice – the one who started the war must be the one to pay.
“I thank the people and Government of the United Kingdom for their tremendous support from the very beginning of this war. We are happy to have such strategic partners and to share the same vision of what a secure future should look like for all.”
Zelenskyy will also meet King Charles at his Sandringham estate on Sunday.
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