French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London on Sunday, the Elysee announced.
The meeting comes as Zelenskyy pushes European leaders to intensify efforts to end the war — concerned that President Donald Trump remains focused on Iran.
“This meeting will allow them to continue their close coordination on our shared agenda of continuing support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia’s war effort.”
The Elysee statement said Russia is facing military, economic, and strategic failure but persists on the front lines in what it called a deadly war.
On Thursday, Zelenskyy published an open letter urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet him directly to agree on an end to more than four years of war. The Kremlin confirmed Putin was briefed on the letter.
Macron told reporters Friday that Europeans could facilitate negotiations. “We have always advocated for direct negotiations between Ukraine and the Kremlin,” he said. “I think that it is Ukraine and Russia who can build both a ceasefire and a peace plan. It is the Europeans who can help with this.”
In Montenegro, Merz struck a different tone: “We are open to dialog, what is missing is Putin’s willingness.”
The Sunday talks mark the latest attempt by Europe’s major powers to coordinate Ukraine policy as the war enters its fifth year.
