{"id":192953,"date":"2025-12-09T05:15:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T05:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/we-stand-with-ukraine-says-starmer-as-leaders-hold-downing-street-talks-with-zelensky-bbc\/"},"modified":"2025-12-09T05:15:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T05:15:14","slug":"we-stand-with-ukraine-says-starmer-as-leaders-hold-downing-street-talks-with-zelensky-bbc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/we-stand-with-ukraine-says-starmer-as-leaders-hold-downing-street-talks-with-zelensky-bbc\/","title":{"rendered":"We stand with Ukraine, says Starmer, as leaders hold Downing Street talks with Zelensky – BBC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ukraine's President Zelensky has held talks in Downing Street<\/a> with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
The leaders discussed the latest Ukraine peace plan, drafted during talks between Ukrainian and US officials in Florida last week
The talks have now ended – here's everything we know about what was discussed<\/a>
In brief comments before the talks, Starmer says "we stand with Ukraine"<\/a>, while Zelensky says "we need to make some important decisions"
On Sunday night, Donald Trump claimed Zelensky's negotiators "love" the latest plan
But he added: "I have to say that I'm a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn't yet read the proposal<\/a>, that was as of a few hours ago"
It seems like Europe and the US no longer share the same world view,<\/i> writes our security correspondent Frank Gardner<\/i><\/a>
Edited by Ben Hatton and Jack Burgess, with reporting from Joel Gunter in Kyiv and BBC Monitoring's Vitaliy Shevchenko
\"\"<\/span><\/span>Elliot Burrin<\/strong>
Live reporter<\/span>
It's been a busy day for Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. He's been meeting key European allies in Downing Street amid US pressure to reach a swift peace deal with Russia.
He spoke with UK prime minister, French president, and German chancellor in No 10 earlier about the latest Ukrainian peace plan – drafted during talks last week between Ukraine and US officials.
The leaders of the UK and France expressed concerns for firm security guarantees<\/a> for Ukraine, while Germany's chancellor voiced scepticism over details coming from the US side<\/a>. Before the meeting, US President Trump accused Zelensky of not having read the latest proposal.
A large focus of these talks has been about unity between Europe and Ukraine. Inside Downing Street, Starmer reiterated the need to "stand with Ukraine<\/a>".
But Zelensky's day of work hasn't ended there. He's now travelling to Brussels, where he'll meet Nato chief Mark Rutte<\/a> and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Tomorrow, he'll meet with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni<\/a> in Rome.
We're about to end our live coverage for today, but you can continue reading with our latest story:
We've just seen some comments from Zelensky on social media platform X, following his meeting with the British, French and German leaders today.
He says he's "grateful" for the meeting and efforts made to achieve peace from a unified Europe, Ukraine, and US.
"What is crucial today is unity between Europe and Ukraine, as well as unity between Europe, Ukraine, and the United States," Zelensky says.
The countries meeting today "held a detailed discussion on our joint diplomatic work with the American side", he says.
Zelensky also mentions that the leaders discussed further defence support for Ukraine.
"I am grateful to the leaders for their willingness to stand with our people and help us on the path toward bringing peace closer," Ukraine's president concludes.
The European Commission president says support for Kyiv and increasing European defence preparedness are two key priorities for the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" – a group of countries seeking to increase pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine.
Ursula von der Leyen says she has updated Zelensky and other leaders in the coalition on these priorities.
The plan to loan Russia's frozen assets to Ukraine as a reparations loan is "complex", she says, but will increase the cost of war for Russia.
"The longer Putin wages his war, spills blood, takes lives, and destroys Ukrainian infrastructure – the higher the costs for Russia will be," von der Leyen says.
She adds that ties within Europe are "stronger than ever" and that they will proceed "united, in supporting Ukraine and defending Europe".
\"\"<\/span><\/span>Paul Adams<\/strong>
Diplomatic correspondent<\/span>
First Sea Lord Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins
Britain's First Sea Lord Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins says Russia has invested vast sums of money in its maritime capabilities, despite fighting a costly war in Ukraine.
The recent episode involving a suspected spy ship, the Yantar, which aimed lasers at RAF pilots tracking its movement off the north coast of Scotland, was, he said, just the most visible example of Russia\u2019s activity.
What worried him more was what was going under the waves.
As part of this year\u2019s strategic defence review, the First Sea Lord is overseeing a new programme, dubbed Atlantic Bastion, which aims to use an array of autonomous sensors to better detect hostile activity.
Much of it is relatively untested and critics say the navy lacks sufficient resources to do the job properly.
But, Sir Gwyn said the first devices would be in the water next year and he urged allies to join Britain in protecting data cables and supply lines.
By Tamara Kovacevic<\/b>
US President Donald Trump has, in the past, been critical of the amount of support European countries have given to Ukraine, comparing it unfavourably with his own country's contribution.
It is true that the United States is, by some margin, the largest single donor to Ukraine. But Europe combined has spent more money than the US, according to the Kiel Institute, external<\/span><\/a> – a Germany-based think tank that tracks international support for Ukraine.
According to their calculations, between January 2022 and the end of August 2025, Europe spent $201.7bn (\u00a3151.5bn) on Ukraine, compared with $130.6bn by the US.
That figure includes aid directly from the European Union but also from bilateral deals with European countries, both inside and outside the EU. It includes military, financial and humanitarian aid.
\"\"<\/span><\/span>Joe Inwood<\/strong>
World news correspondent<\/span>
While we heard the usual diplomatic niceties in Downing Street, with talk of unwavering European support for Ukraine, there were a couple of contributions that were of particular note and somewhat off the expected script.
The German Chancellor, Merz, says he's \u201csceptical\u201d about some of the details coming out of Washington.
Without elaborating on exactly which elements, this is somewhat of a deviation from the usual praise lavished upon the attempts of the Trump administration to find a peaceful solution.
Even more notable was when French President Macron referred to Europe having "a lot of cards in our hands".
This was surely no idle phrase. On the surface he was making the point that the continent is a vast economic and diplomatic power, and able to influence the course of this war.
But it is also being seen as a direct reference to the now infamous White House bust-up between the US and Ukrainian presidents.
Back in February, as tempers frayed, Trump dressed down his Ukrainian guest by saying \u201cyou don't have the cards".
In the aftermath of that, European leaders immediately rallied around Ukraine\u2019s president, once again in Downing Street.
But, holding cards and playing them well are very different things. We await to see how Europe uses its hand.
As we've been reporting, Ukraine's President Zelensky has left Downing Street, where he's been speaking to British, French and German leaders about the latest US-proposed plans to end war in Ukraine.
He's now due to travel to Brussels to meet Nato chief Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen later today.
Tomorrow, he's set to meet Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, the PM's office has confirmed.
Olga Malchevska<\/strong>
BBC eastern Europe reporter<\/span>
Territory is not only the sensitive sticking point with Russia-Ukraine talks, in the view of many Ukrainians. It is also something set in stone in Ukraine's legal system.
Even if he agreed to it, Ukraine's President Zelensky simply does not have powers to sign any territorial concessions, according to the state's main law.
Such power belongs to the Ukrainian people and is to be exercised through the referendum.
Article 73 of Ukraine's constitution states that any changes to the territory of the country can be made only by an "all-Ukrainian referendum".
Russia has been gradually grinding forward in eastern Ukraine
It means that all Ukrainian citizens, in all of its regions, must be able to cast their vote, freely and without any pressures.
This includes those in the occupied territories – around 20% of the land currently controlled by Russia in Crimea, Donbas and parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. It also includes the front lines.
Also, legally the referendum cannot be held during martial law.
This brings the situation to a vicious circle on the level of international diplomacy, and is one of the key points for Ukraine.
\"\"<\/span><\/span>Vitaliy Shevchenko<\/strong>
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring<\/span>
Ukraine's air force says that one of its pilots has been killed while on a combat mission in the east of the country.
In a brief statement, external<\/span><\/a> on the messaging app Telegram, it says Lt Col Yevhen Ivanov died while in a SU-27 fighter jet.
The incident occurred at about midday local time (10:00 GMT).
We're still waiting to hear about how today's meeting with Ukraine unfolded, but we're beginning to get lines from the French Elysee Palace.
Reuters reports it says more work will be done to provide Ukraine with robust security guarantees.
This will also include planning measures for the reconstruction of Ukraine, it adds.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has just finished talks in London with the leaders of the UK, Germany and France – discussing the latest draft peace plan, aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
If you're just joining us, let's quickly recap what we know about those talks:
After spending over two hours inside No 10, talks appear to have ended – with Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Volodymyr Zelensky saying their goodbyes in Downing Street.
Merz and Macron then leave, with Starmer and Zelensky returning to No 10.
We're not expecting a news conference on how the talks went, but are expecting a written statement, which should cover some details of what was said.
\"\"<\/span><\/span>Vitaliy Shevchenko<\/strong>
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring<\/span>
Vladimir Putin, pictured during a visit to India last week
In Russia, meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin, says efforts to stop the population decline in Russia have so far not borne fruit.
"Unfortunately, negative tendencies prevail and the birth rate continues to fall," he said at a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects.
"Our long-term historic task is to preserve and increase our people. Despite the current situation and objective difficulties, we must maintain focus on this objective," he said.
According to the World Bank, external<\/span><\/a>, Russia's population has shrunk from 145.4m in 2019 to 143.5 in 2024.
Independent researchers and BBC Russian have identified more than 150,000 Russians, external<\/span><\/a> killed in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 – although the total number is thought to be much higher.
As Ukraine's president holds talks in Downing Street, victims of some of the latest Russian attacks on Ukraine have been speaking to reporters.
On Sunday, one person was killed and at least five others injured in a series of drone attacks in Dnipropetrovsk, the head of the region said on Telegram., external<\/span><\/a>
In footage from the Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine, residents in Dnipro described the latest aerial assaults.
Volodymyr, the owner of a car parts store in Dnipro, says his neighbours called him in the middle of the night.
He arrived to find emergency services putting out a fire in a neighbouring building. He says his windows and doors were blown out.
Meanwhile, Svitlana says two of her windows were "completely blown out".
"It\u2019s a terrible horror," she says. "I hardly know what to say, it\u2019s difficult to describe in words."<\/p>\n

More comments now from the European leaders before their Downing Street talks.
"I think we have a lot of cards in our hands," French President Emmanuel Macron says.
"The fact that Ukrainians are resisting in this war," Macron adds. "The Russian economy is starting to suffer especially after our latest sanctions and the US sanctions."
Fourth and finally, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz picks up and says: "I am sceptical of some of the details which we are seeing in documents coming from the US side – but we have to talk about it.
"That is why we are here."
We can now bring you comments and pictures from inside Downing Street, where Keir Starmer has welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz.
"We stand with Ukraine," Starmer says, setting out his "principles".
"If there is to be a ceasefire then it needs to be a just and lasting ceasefire; that is why it is so important we repeatedly set out the principle that matters about Ukraine are for Ukraine.
"We stand here to support you in the conflict and support you in the negotiations."
Zelensky adds that unity between Europe, Ukraine and the US is important when negotiating an end to Russia's war in Ukraine.
"There are some things which we can't manage without Americans, things which we can't manage without Europe," he says. "That's why we need to make some important decisions."
By Emma Pengelly<\/b>
As President Zelensky arrived in Downing Street, we\u2019ve been looking at footage of a large explosion at a block of flats in north-eastern Ukraine\u2019s Sumy region. Officials say the blast was caused by a Russian drone attack.
In a verified video there is a loud blast and a fireball erupts at a high-rise block in the city of Okhtyrka in Sumy region. The clip first began circulating on Telegram at around 00:30 local time this morning (22:30 GMT).
We\u2019ve confirmed it was filmed near a main road leading into the city by matching street furniture and buildings in the video with street-level images on Google Earth. Daytime photos of the damaged building posted by the region\u2019s emergency services also match this location.
At least seven people were injured according to Sumy regional head Oleg Grigorov.
Elsewhere Ukraine\u2019s emergency services also reported damage and injuries from Russian drone attacks in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv and Kyiv. One person was killed in Dnipro, officials said.
The emergency services shared a daylight picture of extensive damage, including smoke marks and burned-out windows, at the tower block in Okhtyrka
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walks across Downing Street to be greeted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
They shake hands before posing for photos on the red carpet.
It's ahead of Zelensky's talks with Starmer, as well as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron – who arrived minutes earlier.
French President Emmanuel Macron is next to arrive.
He waves to the press as he walks to meet Starmer. The pair briefly hug and shake hands before entering No 10.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has just arrived at Downing Street ahead of talks.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer greets him at the door to No 10, and the pair shake hands before entering the building.
Copyright \u00a9 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.<\/a><\/p>\n

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