Zelensky held a meeting with European leaders before the meeting with Trump: why Starmer was not present.

According to ТСН: On the eve of an important meeting with Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago, Volodymyr Zelensky held a coordination meeting with key European partners. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was not present at the meeting.

The reason for his absence is the 'schedule pressure' of the Prime Minister.

Who was on the line

The President of Ukraine spoke with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, and Poland on Saturday evening. The conversation included:

• President of France Emmanuel Macron;
• Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni;
• Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz;
• Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk;
• NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The United Kingdom was represented by National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.

London's Position

Downing Street noted that Keir Starmer had not planned to participate in the meeting, and Powell typically joins such calls. Sources emphasized that the British PM is actively engaged in 'constant diplomacy' regarding ending the war: he regularly communicates with Zelensky, and last Friday spoke with the leaders of the E3 group (France, Germany, Italy).

After the meeting with European partners, Zelensky posted on social media X that the world has enough strength to guarantee peace, and strong positions are needed to prevent Putin from avoiding a fair end to the war.

Recall that before the call, Zelensky stopped in Canada, where he met with Prime Minister Mark Carney, who confirmed the provision of another aid package to Ukraine totaling $2.5 billion.

This meeting indicates the continuation of Ukraine's diplomatic efforts on the international stage in the context of an ongoing conflict. Interaction with key European leaders and support from allies highlight the importance of collective action in restoring peace. It is clear that Zelensky is trying to maintain close ties with international partners, which is significant amid today's political situation.