UK's Starmer and Zelensky agree to meet after phone call on sanctions and air defense

Why it matters

The call signals continued UK–Ukraine coordination on sanctions and military support at a moment of visible strain in US–Ukraine relations. A face-to-face meeting between the two leaders is now expected amid calls for an immediate energy ceasefire and continued Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. The backdrop — a reported US–Russian diesel agreement and US public criticism of Zelensky — raises questions about the cohesion of Western pressure on Russia.

What happened

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by telephone and agreed to hold a bilateral meeting in the coming days. Starmer told Zelensky that the past 24 hours had been "difficult" for Ukraine and reiterated Britain's full solidarity, while pledging to keep strengthening sanctions on Russia and take further measures to curb its military machine, building on a new sanctions package London had announced that week. Zelensky briefed Starmer on Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and stressed that air defense supplies remain the top priority. Both leaders called for an immediate energy ceasefire, demanding that Russia end its strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and attacks on ships in the Black Sea.

British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting publicly confirmed Britain's support for Zelensky, told the BBC that only Ukrainians should decide who leads their country, and said Vladimir Putin could end the war but chooses not to. On Sky News he linked Trump's stance to domestic US political concerns ahead of midterm elections and said Britain would prefer tougher sanctions on Russia. London announced a new sanctions package on Russia the same week, and officials argued an immediate Russian energy ceasefire would allow increases in energy and food supplies to world markets.

The call came against a turbulent international backdrop. US President Donald Trump publicly accused Zelensky of not wanting to end the war and said it was time for Ukraine to "choose a new leader," and Trump linked Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries to rising US diesel prices. Trump separately announced a US–Russian agreement on Russian diesel fuel supplies to American and world markets. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal called that decision a big mistake and urged greater support for Ukraine to turn Russian oil refineries into ruins. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Europe would not weaken pressure on Russia following the deal. Germany's Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul said Berlin remained alongside Ukraine and its government after Trump's comments. UK Prime Minister's Office, later also reported as having spoken with Zelensky, confirmed full solidarity and the two leaders agreed to meet in person in the coming days, while promising to strengthen sanctions on Russia and reiterating the call for an immediate energy ceasefire.

Where reporting differs

Sources record two visible transatlantic disagreements. First, US President Donald Trump publicly accused Volodymyr Zelensky of not wanting to end the war and said it was time for Ukraine to "choose a new leader," a position sharply at odds with the tone of the Zelensky–Starmer call, in which the British prime minister expressed full solidarity with Ukraine. Second, Trump announced a US–Russian agreement on Russian diesel fuel supplies to American and world markets, while Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal called the decision a big mistake and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Europe would not weaken pressure on Russia in response.

Background

London announced a new package of sanctions against Russia the same week as the call. The British government argues that an immediate Russian energy ceasefire would allow increases in energy and food supplies to world markets. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal publicly criticized the Trump–Putin diesel agreement as a big mistake and called for greater support for Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Europe will not weaken pressure on Russia following the Trump–Putin agreement.