Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet European leaders in London on Monday, in a high-profile display of unity as geopolitical tensions intensify and the Kremlin openly welcomes what it sees as a harsher U.S. stance toward Europe.
The meeting comes after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Zelensky for allegedly failing to read Washington’s latest peace proposal—comments that have further complicated already fragile negotiations.
Trump Criticizes Zelensky, Kremlin Applauds the U.S. Strategy Shift
Trump said Sunday that the Ukrainian president had not yet reviewed the peace plan drafted by U.S. negotiators, following talks in Miami that ended without agreement on territorial guarantees, security commitments, or long-term oversight.
“I’m a little disappointed that President Zelensky hasn’t read the proposal yet,” Trump said, adding that Russia “would prefer all of Ukraine” and that Moscow appears “on board” with the American plan.
In Moscow, the Kremlin embraced the Trump administration’s newly released National Security Strategy, which removes language describing Russia as a threat and frames the U.S. as the central arbiter of security between Europe and Moscow.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov praised Trump as “strong” and said the new document aligns “in many ways” with Russia’s own worldview.
Europe Alarmed as U.S. Tightens Control Over Peace Talks
For European capitals, timing could not be worse: the U.S. is leading peace negotiations at the very moment its policy toward Europe is hardening.
This has raised concerns that European interests could be sidelined in talks that will determine Ukraine’s future — and Europe’s security.
Zelensky is expected to discuss the matter in London with French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Macron said the leaders will “jointly assess the situation and ongoing negotiations within the U.S.-led mediation framework.”
Miami Talks Stall Over Core Issues
Ukrainian officials confirmed that three days of negotiations in Miami ended without progress.
Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., said “difficult issues remain”, especially concerning territorial integrity and security guarantees.
Talks involved U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Ukrainian officials Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov.
Kyiv insists any settlement must include reliable security commitments and cannot require Ukraine to cede additional territory. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated that he intends to seize the entire Donbas region “by any means necessary.”
Russia Intensifies Attacks Across Ukraine
As diplomacy stalls, Russia launched one of its largest drone and missile barrages in months, killing at least seven people over the weekend and injuring more than a dozen others.
Zelensky said Russia fired over 1,600 attack drones, 1,200 guided air bombs, and nearly 70 missiles in just one week, targeting infrastructure essential for daily life.
Energy facilities in Odesa, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Mykolaiv were hit, leaving thousands without electricity. On Sunday, rolling blackouts were imposed across the entire country.
Ukraine’s military said it struck the Ryazan oil refinery, one of Russia’s largest, overnight Saturday. Moscow has not commented on the claim.
Unexplained Drone Incidents in Europe Spark Security Concerns
Investigations are underway in Ireland and France after unidentified drones were detected near sensitive coastal and military sites — the latest in a string of mysterious drone sightings across Europe since September.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the incidents as “hybrid warfare”.
- In Ireland, drones appeared near Dublin’s coast as Zelensky’s aircraft was preparing to land.
- In France, drones flew close to a naval base hosting nuclear-armed submarines.
Several sightings have disrupted civil aviation and approached restricted military installations. European officials suspect Russian involvement, though no drone has been recovered.
