logo
Zelensky welcomed to No 10 for meeting with Starmer ahead of Nato summit

Zelensky welcomed to No 10 for meeting with Starmer ahead of Nato summit

Volodymyr Zelensky has met Sir Keir Starmer and the King during his visit to the UK ahead of a crunch Nato summit.
The Ukrainian president arrived in Downing Street where he was expected to discuss Britain's ongoing support for his war-torn nation on Monday afternoon, after being welcomed to Windsor Castle for lunch with Charles.
Mr Zelensky, who is usually seen wearing military fatigues, wore a black blazer and trousers throughout his Monday visits.
He and Sir Keir embraced on the doorstep of No 10, where a red carpet had been rolled out for the Ukrainian leader.
Charles and Mr Zelensky were earlier pictured chatting as they made their way through Windsor Castle, and smiling as they shook hands in the Grand Corridor.
During his visit to London, the Ukrainian leader was also welcomed to the Palace of Westminster and met Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and his Lords counterpart, Lord McFall of Alcluith.
His arrival in the UK follows reports that Russia fired 352 drones and 16 missiles at Ukraine overnight, killing at least 10 civilians including seven in Kyiv.
Mr Zelensky said preliminary reports indicated Russia had used North Korean missiles to attack Kyiv and described those two countries, and Iran, as a 'coalition of murderers'.
His visit to London takes place the day before Nato leaders are set to meet in The Hague for a two-day summit, with increased defence spending top of the agenda.
Mr Zelensky has been invited to the summit but will not take part in its main discussions, and it is still unclear whether he will attend at all.
Ahead of the visit, a Downing Street spokesman said Sir Keir would 'reiterate our steadfast support for Ukraine' during his meeting with Mr Zelensky.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Starmer heads to Nato summit with 5% spending pledge
Starmer heads to Nato summit with 5% spending pledge

The Herald Scotland

timean hour ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Starmer heads to Nato summit with 5% spending pledge

It includes spending 3.5% on 'core defence' and another 1.5% on 'resilience and security'. It represents a significant jump from the current 2% Nato target, and from the UK Government's aim of spending 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence from 2027 and 3% at some point after the next election. But the figure is in line with the demands of US President Donald Trump, who has called for Nato allies to shoulder more of the burden of European defence. Ahead of his trip to the Netherlands, Sir Keir said the increased spending target was 'an opportunity to deepen our commitment to Nato and drive greater investment in the nation's wider security and resilience'. He said: 'We must navigate this era of radical uncertainty with agility, speed and a clear-eyed sense of the national interest to deliver security for working people and keep them safe.' The Government expects to spend 1.5% of GDP on resilience and security by 2027. The details of what counts towards that target are due to be set out during this week's summit, but it is likely to include spending on energy and border security as well as intelligence agencies. But increasing core defence spending to 3.5% will not happen until 2035, with at least two elections likely to take place before then. Nor would Downing Street say how the increase would be paid for, with a spokesman describing the figure as 'a projected target' that allies would review in 2029 when Nato carries out its next capability assessment. The Royal United Services Institute has estimated that increasing core defence spending to 3.5% by 2035 would cost £40 billion a year more than keeping the figure at 2.5%. Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the Tories welcomed the higher Nato target, but said the Government's commitment was 'both unfunded and a decade away, when the threat we face is real and imminent'. He said: 'The Chancellor failed to set a path to 3% in the spending review, and this is another announcement without a plan. 'Instead of using smoke and mirrors to inflate defence spending, Labour must get to 3% this Parliament and back our country's defence with a fully funded plan.' The Prime Minister prepared to fly to the Netherlands for the two-day Nato summit against the background of both the war in Ukraine and hostilities in the Middle East. Late on Monday, Mr Trump claimed he had secured a ceasefire between Iran and Israel after Tehran retaliated against a US strike on its nuclear facilities. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Sir Keir would continue to press for a diplomatic solution to the Israel-Iran crisis. He will also urge allies to help secure a 'just and lasting peace' in Ukraine by showing strength and providing Kyiv with 'the support it needs to defend itself against continued Russian aggression'. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at 10 Downing Street (Jeff Moore/PA) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to attend the summit, but not take part in the main discussions of the North Atlantic Council. Ahead of the summit, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte described the move to spend more on defence as a 'quantum leap' that would make the organisation 'a stronger, a fairer and a more lethal alliance'. But it was reported on Sunday that Spain had reached a deal that would see it exempted from the 5% target. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that Spain would be able to keep its commitments to the 32-nation military alliance by spending 2.1% of GDP on defence needs. Tuesday will also see the publication of the UK's national security strategy, which is expected to call for the whole of society to become more resilient and recognise national security 'means more than it used to'. The document will tie together a series of reviews commissioned by the Government, including the recent strategic defence review, a review of the Aukus alliance with the US and Australia and an audit of relations with China.

Starmer heads to Nato summit with 5% spending pledge
Starmer heads to Nato summit with 5% spending pledge

Western Telegraph

timean hour ago

  • Western Telegraph

Starmer heads to Nato summit with 5% spending pledge

Sir Keir Starmer and other leaders of Nato countries will meet in The Hague this week, where they are expected to formally agree the target. It includes spending 3.5% on 'core defence' and another 1.5% on 'resilience and security'. It represents a significant jump from the current 2% Nato target, and from the UK Government's aim of spending 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence from 2027 and 3% at some point after the next election. But the figure is in line with the demands of US President Donald Trump, who has called for Nato allies to shoulder more of the burden of European defence. Ahead of his trip to the Netherlands, Sir Keir said the increased spending target was 'an opportunity to deepen our commitment to Nato and drive greater investment in the nation's wider security and resilience'. He said: 'We must navigate this era of radical uncertainty with agility, speed and a clear-eyed sense of the national interest to deliver security for working people and keep them safe.' The Government expects to spend 1.5% of GDP on resilience and security by 2027. The details of what counts towards that target are due to be set out during this week's summit, but it is likely to include spending on energy and border security as well as intelligence agencies. But increasing core defence spending to 3.5% will not happen until 2035, with at least two elections likely to take place before then. Nor would Downing Street say how the increase would be paid for, with a spokesman describing the figure as 'a projected target' that allies would review in 2029 when Nato carries out its next capability assessment. The Royal United Services Institute has estimated that increasing core defence spending to 3.5% by 2035 would cost £40 billion a year more than keeping the figure at 2.5%. Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the Tories welcomed the higher Nato target, but said the Government's commitment was 'both unfunded and a decade away, when the threat we face is real and imminent'. He said: 'The Chancellor failed to set a path to 3% in the spending review, and this is another announcement without a plan. 'Instead of using smoke and mirrors to inflate defence spending, Labour must get to 3% this Parliament and back our country's defence with a fully funded plan.' The Prime Minister prepared to fly to the Netherlands for the two-day Nato summit against the background of both the war in Ukraine and hostilities in the Middle East. Late on Monday, Mr Trump claimed he had secured a ceasefire between Iran and Israel after Tehran retaliated against a US strike on its nuclear facilities. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Sir Keir would continue to press for a diplomatic solution to the Israel-Iran crisis. He will also urge allies to help secure a 'just and lasting peace' in Ukraine by showing strength and providing Kyiv with 'the support it needs to defend itself against continued Russian aggression'. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at 10 Downing Street (Jeff Moore/PA) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to attend the summit, but not take part in the main discussions of the North Atlantic Council. Ahead of the summit, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte described the move to spend more on defence as a 'quantum leap' that would make the organisation 'a stronger, a fairer and a more lethal alliance'. But it was reported on Sunday that Spain had reached a deal that would see it exempted from the 5% target. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that Spain would be able to keep its commitments to the 32-nation military alliance by spending 2.1% of GDP on defence needs. Tuesday will also see the publication of the UK's national security strategy, which is expected to call for the whole of society to become more resilient and recognise national security 'means more than it used to'. The document will tie together a series of reviews commissioned by the Government, including the recent strategic defence review, a review of the Aukus alliance with the US and Australia and an audit of relations with China.

UK lifts warning for Qatar as Trump says Iran and Israel have agreed ceasefire
UK lifts warning for Qatar as Trump says Iran and Israel have agreed ceasefire

Rhyl Journal

timean hour ago

  • Rhyl Journal

UK lifts warning for Qatar as Trump says Iran and Israel have agreed ceasefire

Iran launched a missile attack on the base after America's strikes on its nuclear facilities on Saturday. However, US President Donald Trump appeared to react positively, calling the move 'a very weak response' and thanking Tehran 'for giving us early notice' to avoid any casualties. He then claimed Israel and Iran had agreed a 'complete and total ceasefire' to be phased in over 24 hours. Foreign Secretary David Lammy had urged Iran to 'take the off ramp' and return to the negotiating table with the US after American B-2 stealth bombers and a salvo of submarine-launched missiles hit Iran's nuclear facilities on Saturday night. But after a US security alert, the Foreign Office advised British nationals to 'shelter in place' and Qatar shut its airspace as a precaution. The attacks came shortly after. Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said the UK was monitoring the 'fast-changing situation' closely and that 'the UK Government utterly condemns any escalation'. 'Force protection now is at its highest state across all deployed units in the Middle East,' he told the Commons. 'The additional RAF Typhoon jets announced by the Prime Minister have now arrived in the region to reinforce our posture, deter threats and reassure our partners, and I want to be clear, we will not rule out sending further capabilities if they are required,' Mr Pollard said. Meanwhile, the UK started evacuating Britons from Israel, with the first group of 63 flown back via Cyprus and due to return to the UK on Monday. Downing Street said 'around 1,000' people had requested a seat on an evacuation flight – a quarter of the 4,000 who had registered their presence in Israel or Palestine with the Foreign Office. The Government has withdrawn staff from its embassy in Iran and it is operating 'remotely', Mr Lammy told MPs. The Foreign Secretary previously spoke of a two-week window for a diplomatic solution after Mr Trump's apparent decision last week to delay US military action. On Monday, he said the window had 'narrowed' but told MPs the need for a diplomatic solution remained. Mr Lammy said: 'My message for Tehran was clear, take the off ramp, dial this thing down, and negotiate with the United States seriously and immediately. 'The alternative is an even more destructive and far-reaching conflict, which could have unpredictable consequences.' Downing Street had said that preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear bomb was a 'good thing' for the UK, but declined to comment on whether the US strikes complied with international law. Meanwhile, oil prices reached their highest level for nearly six months over fears a regional conflict could restrict supply, especially if Iran decided to blockade the Strait of Hormuz. Mr Lammy told MPs the Government was 'closely monitoring' the energy markets and urged Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, saying a blockade would be 'a monumental act of economic self-harm' and make reaching a diplomatic solution even harder.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store