UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at Downing Street on Sunday for high-level discussions on the war in Ukraine and future Western support for Kyiv.The meeting comes after a week of intensified fighting between Russia and Ukraine, marked by fresh drone attacks and renewed diplomatic deadlock after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Zelenskyy’s proposal for face-to-face talks.According to The Guardian, the UK, France and Germany — among Kyiv’s strongest European backers — are expected to discuss continued military assistance and security guarantees for Ukraine as part of broader efforts to advance a future peace process.
Kyiv strikes deep inside Russian territory
Ahead of the London talks, Ukraine launched what officials described as a large-scale drone assault targeting St Petersburg and surrounding areas, highlighting Kyiv’s growing ability to strike strategic sites far from the frontline.Regional authorities in Russia said 141 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over the Leningrad region, while the Russian defence ministry claimed air defences destroyed 376 drones nationwide. Residents in parts of St Petersburg were advised to remain indoors during the attack. No casualties were immediately reported.Zelenskyy said Ukrainian drones had struck military-related facilities near St Petersburg, including naval arsenals and a base in Kronstadt, roughly 1,000km from Ukrainian territory. He also claimed long-range strikes targeted an oil depot in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
Zelenskyy accuses Putin of prolonging war
Reacting to Putin’s refusal to hold direct talks, Zelenskyy accused the Russian leader of deliberately extending the conflict.“It is time to end this war. But Russia’s ruler wants to keep fighting,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media, arguing that Moscow continues to reject opportunities for meaningful negotiations.US President Donald Trump said a meeting between the two leaders would be “great”, though Washington’s recent diplomatic focus has largely shifted towards negotiations with Iran.
Fresh attacks reported on both sides
In Ukraine, Russian strikes overnight killed one person and injured three others in the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to regional officials. The area was reportedly hit nearly 30 times using drones and artillery.In Zaporizhzhia, seven people sought medical treatment after a Russian drone strike triggered a fire in a car park. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 272 attack drones overnight, of which 249 were intercepted.Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry claimed its forces had captured the settlement of Shevchenko in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. The claim could not be independently verified.
Oil refinery fire sparks speculation
A fire also broke out at the Antipinsky oil refinery in Russia’s Tyumen region, one of the country’s largest oil-processing facilities. Local authorities attributed the incident to a technical malfunction and denied reports suggesting it was linked to a Ukrainian drone attack.
European allies reinforce support
The London meeting shows continued European backing for Ukraine as the war enters its fifth year. Earlier this week, Starmer condemned Russia’s latest attacks during a phone conversation with Zelenskyy.Last month, the British prime minister also signed a new UK-Poland security pact with Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, describing it as a “generational uplift” in defence cooperation aimed at countering Russian aggression across Europe.
