British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he has the UK's full support when the two met at "Downing Street", BNR reported.
The two signed a £2.26 billion loan for Ukrainian military supplies, which will be repaid using profits from frozen Russian assets.
Arriving in Britain after a difficult meeting at the White House with Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky told Keir Starmer that he was happy that his country had "such friends" as he was greeted by cheers outside "Downing Street". The British Prime Minister replied: “We will be with you and with Ukraine for as long as necessary“.
Keir Starmer will host a summit of European leaders today on efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as wider European defence, to which Zelensky has been invited. The Ukrainian president will also meet King Charles III. After the meeting in "Downing Street", Zelensky praised the "enormous" support from the UK, noting in particular the £2.26 billion loan covered by Russian assets frozen since the start of the war.
He said the funds would be used to produce weapons in Ukraine, adding: “This is true justice – "he who started the war must pay."
Zelensky reported that he had an "important and cordial" conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with whom they discussed strengthening Ukraine's positions and obtaining reliable security guarantees, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
"During our talks, we discussed the challenges facing Ukraine and all of Europe, coordination with our partners, concrete steps to strengthen Ukraine's positions and end the war in a fair manner, with reliable security guarantees," Zelensky wrote on the "Telegram" app.
In London, the crowd cheered as Zelensky arrived at the British Prime Minister's residence.
"I hope you heard some of these joyful shouts on the street. "This is the people of the United Kingdom coming out to show how much they support you and to show our absolute determination to stand by you," Starmer said.
The prime minister assured Zelensky that he had the "full support of the whole of Britain." "We will be with you and Ukraine for as long as necessary," he said.
Zelensky is also expected to meet with British monarch Charles III today. According to the "Sun" newspaper The meeting will take place at the Sandringham Estate in eastern England.
"I am very pleased that His Majesty the King has agreed to receive me", Zelensky told Starmer at the start of their meeting.
After talks that lasted about an hour, the Ukrainian president left the British prime minister's residence, accompanied to his car by his host.
Keir Starmer spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron after his meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at "Downing Street", PA Media and DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
Starmer's conversation with Trump is the second in two days and is part of the British prime minister's efforts to act as a bridge between Europe and America to preserve the integrity of the transatlantic alliance.
The British prime minister believes that the deal for peace would have to include American military assets to provide surveillance, intelligence and possibly warplanes to provide air cover to deter a new attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to conquer his neighbor, the agencies noted.