On Saturday, the Prime Minister of the UK, Sir Keir Starmer, told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky he has “full backing across the United Kingdom” as the two met in Downing Street.
Soon after the meeting, President Zelensky reportedly told the prime minister he was happy his country had “such friends” after arriving in the UK and after the contentious White House meeting with President Donald Trump on Friday.
Zelensky and Sir Keir also signed a £2.26bn loan for Ukrainian military supplies, that will be repaid using profits from frozen Russian assets.
Despite growing concerns about a hardening of relations with the U.S., PM Sir Keir attempted to be a conduit for Ukraine as it seeks U.S. security guarantees in any peace deal by reportedly- contacting both Trump and Zelensky by phone in the aftermath of their row.
Zelensky’s visit to Downing Street on Saturday was an opportunity for the PM to demonstrate his continued support for Zelensky following the public falling-out with Trump.
Remarking on cheers he heard outside, Sir Keir told the Ukrainian leader: “That is the people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you, how much they support Ukraine.”
He added: “We stand with you and Ukraine for as long as it may take.”
Zelensky replied, “I saw a lot of people and I want to thank you, the people of the United Kingdom, [for] such big support from the very beginning of this war.”
Zelensky said he was happy about meeting the King Charles on Sunday, and was thankful for the European summit.
It is understood the meeting between Zelensky and the King was requested by the Ukrainian president, with the UK government agreeing to it.
Following the Downing Street meeting, Zelensky praised the UK’s “tremendous” support, noting in particular the £2.26bn loan paid for through Russian assets frozen since the war began.
He said the funds will be used to produce weapons in Ukraine, declaring:
“This is true justice – the one who started the war must be the one to pay.”
One day following the meeting at the White House and after Trump’s critical remarks toward President Zelensky—the Ukrainian President thanked the American people and hoped for “strong relations.”
Zelensky arrived in London one day ahead of a summit organized by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer with other European leaders.
The summit is to include leaders from France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Czechia and Romania and the NATO secretary-general along with presidents of the European Commission and European Council.
A source close to an organization with long-standing ties to Ukrainian communities across the U.S. spoke to Northeast Valley News on the condition of anonymity, “I would like to deliver this message to everyone—there is always a way to for us to influence and make a difference, we believe that one voice does matter— one person does matter, I would encourage everyone who has some concern Ukraine to pick up their phones and call their congress persons and express every one of their concerns. These phone calls and these emails do matter.”
Arizonans rally in support of Ukraine
Arizonans held a, “Stand with Ukraine” community rally in Central Phoenix a few days before the White House meeting with Trump, Vance and Ukrainian President Zelensky.
People from all different walks of life made their way down to the Ukrainian American Cultural Center in Phoenix to show their support for Ukraine.
Oli Nevinska, was one of the individual’s tasked with organizing the rally.
She, along with volunteers from several local and nationwide organizations have made it their mission to bring awareness to the ongoing war in Ukraine and to continue to reach out to Arizonans and all Americans for their support of Ukraine.
As the war reaches its third-year anniversary, Nevinska said the rally in support of Ukraine is not just for the Ukrainian community but for democracy everywhere.
“This rally means more than just the anniversary, in light of the statements from the current administration it’s important now more than ever for Americans to show their support for Ukraine,” Nevinska said.
Nevinska is frustrated with the Trump administration over false statements and unevidenced claims against President Zelensky.
For example, Trump falsely stated that Zelensky’s approval rating was down to 4% when it was actually well above—at 63%.
A Reuters recent poll (KIIS) “found 63% of Ukrainian respondents approved of Zelenskiy, a number up from 56% in May 2024.”
Trump also referenced Zelensky as a dictator—not reflecting the truth, a statement Trump later said, “I can’t believe I said that.”
Reportedly, Trump called Zelensky a dictator on a number of occasions earlier in the week, and his lack of memory about this caused dozens of people on social media to question whether Trump is battling dementia, or another severe form of memory loss.
The statements being released by the current administration continue to outrage not only the Ukrainian community in the United States, but many American citizens as well.
Candio Canarena, a student at Arizona State University joined in the rally to show his support for his friend and classmate who is an immigrant from Ukraine.
Canaenra told Northeast Valley News, “It’s frustrating to see the current administration focus on building relationships with Russia and Putin rather than helping support the real patriots defending their country.”
Many attending the rally were heard voicing their frustration with the Trump administration and the way they are handling the current war in Ukraine and other administrative moves that are hurting the U.S.
One day after the shocking Trump/Vance confrontation toward Zelensky at the White House meeting—large crowds of protestors lined the streets near a Vermont ski resort where Vance was vacationing.
Many held signs of support for Ukraine while others carried signs of protest over federal job cuts and Musk’s DOGE infiltration into government department records.
