Ukraine's Leader Meets Allies for Stronger Stance Against Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is in London to meet with key allies, aiming to boost Ukraine's position in potential future peace talks with Russia. The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is pushing for a group of supportive countries to implement tougher measures against Russia. These measures include cutting off Russian oil and gas from the global market, using frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine, and supplying Kyiv with more long-range missiles. Starmer's call for action comes after U. S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies. This move is seen as a significant shift, as Trump had previously hinted at a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Starmer criticized Putin, stating that he has consistently rejected peace proposals and shown no serious intent to end the conflict.The discussions in London will involve both in-person and virtual meetings, with leaders from NATO, the Netherlands, and Denmark expected to participate. Zelenskiy has been advocating for these long-range weapons and the use of frozen Russian assets to further support Ukraine's defense. He recently praised Trump's energy sanctions during a visit to Brussels, where he also urged European leaders to provide more military support. Russia has warned that seizing its frozen assets to fund a $163 billion loan for Ukraine would result in a "painful response. " Meanwhile, the European Union has approved another round of sanctions against Russia, including a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas. These actions are part of a broader effort to reduce Moscow's revenue and pressure Russia to end the war.