President Volodymyr Zelensky will hold talks with key European leaders in London on Monday as Ukraine’s allies weigh their response to growing US pressure on Kyiv to accept concessions in

peace negotiations with Russia.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz will join Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street, aiming to ensure any deal includes strong security guarantees to deter future Russian attacks.

The meeting follows three days of talks in Florida where Zelensky’s chief negotiator sought changes to a US peace proposal seen as favouring Kremlin demands. While both sides claimed progress, President Donald Trump criticised Zelensky on Sunday, saying he was “disappointed” the Ukrainian leader had not yet read the latest draft.

The proposal was revised in Miami after talks led by Ukraine’s negotiator Rustem Umerov and Trump’s aides Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Zelensky said discussions were “constructive, though not easy” and that some issues could only be resolved in person.

Downing Street said Monday’s meeting would focus on the peace process and next steps. UK minister Pat McFadden said Ukraine must retain the right to “decide its own future” and warned against “toothless” security guarantees.

The UK and France are leading efforts to form a “coalition of the willing” to provide future defence support for Ukraine, possibly including a reassurance force. However, Germany and others remain wary of deploying troops, a move the Kremlin has labelled an escalation.

Territorial concessions remain a major sticking point. The US has proposed Ukraine withdraw from eastern regions partially held by Russia in exchange for Russian pullbacks elsewhere. Talks over the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant—Europe’s largest—have also proved highly sensitive.

Reuters A serviceman with a Russian flag on his uniform stands guard near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.Reuters

The fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (pictured in August 2022) is a sticking point in negotiations to end the war, a US official said

European leaders fear a rushed US-led deal could undermine long-term regional security. Despite pressure, the Kremlin has shown little sign of compromising, including on its demand that Ukraine never joins Nato. Putin has reiterated he will continue the war until Russian forces fully control Donetsk and Luhansk.

Russia has meanwhile welcomed elements of the White House’s updated National Security Strategy, which calls for improved relations between Europe and Russia to reduce the risk of wider conflict, describing it as a “positive step.” Photo by President.gov.ua, Wikimedia commons.