Ukraine on High Alert as Zelensky Meets Starmer Ahead of US-Russia Summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in London to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a day before a key summit between US President and Russian leader in Alaska. The summit has sparked fears that Trump and Putin may strike a deal that forces painful concessions on Ukraine. As the war rages on in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky has publicly expressed his deep scepticism about Putin's willingness to achieve peace.

Key Takeaways:

• Zelensky is meeting with Starmer in London ahead of the US-Russia summit in Alaska, where Trump and Putin will meet for the first time since Putin's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
• The US-Russia summit has heightened fears that Trump and Putin may strike a deal that forces painful concessions on Ukraine, with a stepped-up Russian offensive and the fact that Zelensky has not been invited to the meeting.
• Zelensky has refused to surrender territory to Russia and has expressed his deep scepticism about Putin's willingness to achieve peace, despite publicly supporting US diplomacy.
• Starmer has stated that there is now a "viable" chance for a Ukraine ceasefire, thanks to the work of US President, and that Ukraine's military backers have drawn up workable military plans in case of a ceasefire.
• NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has declared that "the ball is now in Putin's court," as the European leaders show a united stance against Russia.

Statistics:

• Tens of thousands of people have been killed since Putin's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
• Zelensky has not been invited to the Anchorage meeting on Friday, where Trump and Putin will meet.
• 3 people were wounded and fires were sparked in the southern city of Volgograd after Russia fired dozens of drones at overnight into the early morning.
• Three-way summit is an option, with Trump saying he could quickly organize a three-way summit with both Zelensky and Putin if the first meeting goes well.
• 3 and a bit years have passed since the conflict began in Ukraine.

Sources:

• Ukraine on High Alert as Zelensky Meets Starmer Ahead of US-Russia Summit (Radio France Internationale)