UK's Starmer Welcomes Zelensky Following Trump Incident
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky the UK's “unwavering support” and has committed to providing a new loan. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
London has pledged a new loan of $2.84 billion to Kiev, with plans to finance it through profits from frozen Russian assets.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky was greeted warmly in London by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who reaffirmed the UK’s “unwavering support” for Ukraine “for as long as it takes” after a challenging meeting with US President Donald Trump.
The discussion between Trump and Zelensky at the White House aimed to finalize a minerals agreement but escalated when Zelensky pushed for greater support from Washington instead of acting as a neutral mediator with Moscow. Trump confronted Zelensky, accusing him of ingratitude for American assistance and reluctance to make necessary compromises to conclude the conflict. “We’re looking for peace,” Trump stated. “We’re not looking for somebody that’s going to sign up a strong power and then not make peace because they feel emboldened.”
In stark contrast, Starmer assured Zelensky of the UK’s complete support “for as long as it takes,” highlighting the objective of achieving a “just and lasting peace that secures Ukraine’s future sovereignty and security,” as noted by a spokesperson.
On Saturday, the UK also announced the substantial loan to enhance Ukraine’s military capabilities, which London anticipates will be financed through profits derived from the frozen Russian assets. Zelensky described his meeting with Starmer as “meaningful and warm,” asserting that the “funds will be directed toward weapons production in Ukraine.”
Since 2022, an estimated $300 billion in Russian central bank reserves and billions in private assets have been frozen by Washington and Brussels. While Western officials have suggested reallocating some of these funds to support Ukraine, legal challenges have hindered progress. Nevertheless, proceeds from the assets are already backing some of the G7 loans to Ukraine.
Moscow has consistently denounced the asset freeze as “theft,” claiming that accessing these funds would be illegal and set a dangerous precedent. The Kremlin contends that the support provided by Western nations to Kiev makes them direct participants in the conflict.
The UK stands as one of the largest individual state donors to Ukraine, having contributed over $15.5 billion since January 2022. Germany has supplied more than $18 billion worth of arms and aid, while the US has provided nearly $120 billion, according to data from Germany’s Kiel Institute.
Trump, however, estimates the total US aid to Kiev at over $300 billion, advocating for Ukraine to repay US taxpayers through the minerals initiative. He criticized former President Joe Biden for distributing funds freely like “cotton candy,” while pointing out that European nations would be compensated for their assistance to Kiev as it was given “in the form of a loan.”
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky was greeted warmly in London by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who reaffirmed the UK’s “unwavering support” for Ukraine “for as long as it takes” after a challenging meeting with US President Donald Trump.
The discussion between Trump and Zelensky at the White House aimed to finalize a minerals agreement but escalated when Zelensky pushed for greater support from Washington instead of acting as a neutral mediator with Moscow. Trump confronted Zelensky, accusing him of ingratitude for American assistance and reluctance to make necessary compromises to conclude the conflict. “We’re looking for peace,” Trump stated. “We’re not looking for somebody that’s going to sign up a strong power and then not make peace because they feel emboldened.”
In stark contrast, Starmer assured Zelensky of the UK’s complete support “for as long as it takes,” highlighting the objective of achieving a “just and lasting peace that secures Ukraine’s future sovereignty and security,” as noted by a spokesperson.
On Saturday, the UK also announced the substantial loan to enhance Ukraine’s military capabilities, which London anticipates will be financed through profits derived from the frozen Russian assets. Zelensky described his meeting with Starmer as “meaningful and warm,” asserting that the “funds will be directed toward weapons production in Ukraine.”
Since 2022, an estimated $300 billion in Russian central bank reserves and billions in private assets have been frozen by Washington and Brussels. While Western officials have suggested reallocating some of these funds to support Ukraine, legal challenges have hindered progress. Nevertheless, proceeds from the assets are already backing some of the G7 loans to Ukraine.
Moscow has consistently denounced the asset freeze as “theft,” claiming that accessing these funds would be illegal and set a dangerous precedent. The Kremlin contends that the support provided by Western nations to Kiev makes them direct participants in the conflict.
The UK stands as one of the largest individual state donors to Ukraine, having contributed over $15.5 billion since January 2022. Germany has supplied more than $18 billion worth of arms and aid, while the US has provided nearly $120 billion, according to data from Germany’s Kiel Institute.
Trump, however, estimates the total US aid to Kiev at over $300 billion, advocating for Ukraine to repay US taxpayers through the minerals initiative. He criticized former President Joe Biden for distributing funds freely like “cotton candy,” while pointing out that European nations would be compensated for their assistance to Kiev as it was given “in the form of a loan.”
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
