LONDON — UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron to Downing Street on Monday, December 8, 2025, in a high-profile show of European unity as U.S.-led peace negotiations with Russia remain deadlocked.
The four leaders held intensive talks focused on the need for strong, long-term security guarantees for Ukraine and a coordinated European response to the ongoing war. In a joint statement afterward, they emphasized that any just and lasting peace must include robust protections for Ukraine and enable it to defend itself against continued Russian aggression.
They instructed their national security advisors to continue close consultations in the coming days to develop concrete proposals on how Europe can strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities and lay the groundwork for post-war security architecture.
Starmer described the meeting as taking place at a “critical stage” in the conflict, stressing that Europe must be ready to step up if U.S. support wavers. Macron posted on social media that Ukraine “can count on our support and on our commitment for a just and lasting peace,” while pointing to new European and American sanctions designed to keep maximum pressure on Moscow.
Following the Downing Street session, the leaders joined a broader video conference with other European counterparts, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof. The call focused on the rapidly evolving battlefield situation and the urgent need to increase military, financial, and humanitarian assistance to Kyiv.
Meloni underlined the importance of maintaining alignment between Europe and the United States for any peace deal to succeed. She confirmed that President Zelenskyy will travel to Rome on Tuesday for bilateral talks—the third such visit this year—where further military and energy support is expected to be discussed.
Dutch Prime Minister Schoof announced a new €700 million accelerated aid package for Ukraine, with €250 million specifically earmarked for air defense systems and F-16 ammunition. The move comes despite the Netherlands operating under a caretaker government and reflects strong cross-party consensus in The Hague for continued robust backing of Kyiv.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen briefed participants on the EU’s latest coordinated support measures, including a proposed reparations loan backed by frozen Russian central bank assets. She warned that the longer Vladimir Putin continues the war and destroys Ukrainian lives and infrastructure, the higher the ultimate cost to Russia will be.
Behind the scenes, Ukrainian officials expressed growing concern about the direction of the U.S.-brokered talks. Kyiv is still awaiting clarity on what kind of security guarantees Washington is prepared to offer and whether the Trump administration intends to act as a neutral mediator or push terms more favorable to Moscow.
European leaders, meanwhile, made clear they will not accept any deal that rewards Russian aggression or leaves Ukraine vulnerable to future attacks. The London meeting and subsequent pledges of fresh aid and sanctions coordination signal that Europe is preparing to take greater responsibility for Ukraine’s security—even as it continues to work closely with the United States.
As Zelenskyy departed for Rome late Monday, the message from European capitals was unmistakable: whatever path the U.S. chooses, Europe intends to stand firmly with Ukraine and ensure that any eventual peace is built on strength, justice, and lasting guarantees—not capitulation.
