European Leaders To Hold Crisis Talks In London After Zelenskyy's Clash With Trump

By Ray Furlong March 02, 2025

LONDON - The lavish interiors of Lancaster House in London will host crisis talks on March 2 as European leaders seek to recover from collective shock and horror after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's disastrous visit to Washington this week.

On the eve of the conference, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Zelenskyy at his Downing Street residence, followed by the announcement of a 2.26 billion pounds ($2.84 billion) loan to Ukraine.

"This loan will enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities and will be repaid using revenues from frozen Russian assets," Zelenskyy posted on social media after the talks.

It's not a game-changing sum but offers some consolation for Zelenskyy after an unprecedented and angry row with U.S. President Donald Trump that saw him leaving the White House on February 28 early -- and empty handed.

The London conference has taken on a new significance since the confrontation in the Oval Office, and resuscitating the Trump-Zelenskyy relationship is likely to become a key item on the agenda.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte -- who is in London -- said Zelenskyy must find a way to restore the relationship. It's unclear whether that's a realistic prospect. But Trump said Zelenskyy could come back "when he wants peace."

Ahead of the conference, Starmer will hold bilateral talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. She could be an important figure in Europe's ongoing attempts to convince Washington of the need to support Ukraine.

A staunch Ukraine supporter, she is also ideologically close to Trump and he has warmly praised her.

Even before Zelenskyy's trip to Washington, European leaders demonstrated a growing sense of urgency to make themselves relevant to the Trump administration.

This was spurred by statements from senior U.S. officials suggesting Europe would not be directly involved in Ukraine peace negotiations -- and by signs of warming U.S. ties with Moscow.

Previous crisis talks in Paris last week focused on whether Europe could muster a credible military force to deploy to Ukraine after a cease-fire or peace deal, as well as a longer-term aim of pledges to boost defense spending.

Some progress was made but there was no decisive breakthrough announcement. The challenge for the London talks, after the debacle in the Oval Office, is to achieve something more tangible and impressive.

Alongside this, some European leaders are raising the prospect that this goes beyond proving their worth to Washington. Instead, it's about preparing for a possible scenario in which they cannot rely on the U.S. security umbrella.

The winner of the recent German elections, Friedrich Merz, declared a week ago that Europe needed to achieve "independence" from the United States.

After Zelenskyy's Washington trip, German Foreign Minister Annalene Baerbock said she would back measures to help Ukraine "withstand Russia's aggression even if the United States withdraws support."

"Europe is standing before a historic test," said Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on March 1. "It must take care of its own security."

Zelenskyy's schedule later includes a meeting with Britain's King Charles III. Although the British monarch has only a symbolic role, the meeting is also a way of telegraphing a political message to Washington.

Starmer's flourished invitation to Trump from the king to come on a historic second state visit to the U.K. was widely seen here as a key moment during the prime minister's visit to Washington on February 27.

A royal audience for Zelenskyy underscores Britain's support for him, and its desire to act as a bridge and peacemaker between Washington and Kyiv.

Here in Britain, Starmer's position has been echoed across the political spectrum. Prominent figures who have been close to Trump urged him not to burn bridges with Zelenskyy.

Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party and vocal Trump admirer, said: "This is not the end of the story, far from it. A peace deal is essential, and Ukraine needs the right security guarantees."

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "The best way forward now is for the minerals deal to be signed as soon as possible. There is still a path to peace."

He was referring to an agreement that was supposed to be the great diplomatic prize of Zelenskyy's Washington trip, heralding a renewed relationship with the United States.

Those high hopes have been dealt a body blow. In London, leaders are desperately seeking a response.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/london-starmer- europe-ukraine-zelenskyy-loan-summit-russia/33332840.html

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European Leaders To Hold Crisis Talks In London After Zelenskyy's Clash With Trump