Macron, Starmer and Merz to Meet Zelensky in London

French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London on Sunday, the Elysee Palace has announced.

The leaders will continue to coordinate support for Ukraine and efforts to increase pressure on Russia. "Russia is facing military, economic, and strategic failure – and persists, unsuccessfully, on the front lines in a deadly war", the statement said.

Zelensky is seeking to persuade European leaders to intensify efforts to end the war. In an open letter on Thursday, he urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet in person to negotiate an end to the conflict, now in its fourth year. The Kremlin said it had informed Putin of the letter.

Macron said on Friday that France has long supported direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. "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", he said.

During his visit to Montenegro, Merz said the European side was ready for dialogue but that "what is missing is Putin's willingness".

(reuters, bak)