Zelensky Arrives in UK for Talks on European Support
Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in the United Kingdom ahead of scheduled talks at Downing Street concerning European support for Ukraine. The discussions will involve UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Drone Strike on Chornobyl Nuclear Facility
Prior to the meeting, President Zelensky condemned a recent attack by Russian forces, describing it as a deliberate and "vile" assault. Ukrainian officials reported that a drone struck a storage facility containing spent nuclear fuel near the Chornobyl nuclear plant, located in northern Ukraine.
Authorities confirmed that a fire resulting from the strike was extinguished promptly, no injuries were reported, and radiation levels remained stable.
Casualties in Zaporizhzhia Region
In a separate incident, at least three individuals were killed in a Russian strike on a village near Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine, according to local authorities. The Zaporizhzhia area has been subjected to persistent Russian attacks in recent times, with at least two fatalities reported there on the preceding Saturday.
Impact on Nuclear Infrastructure
Ukraine's state-owned nuclear operator, Enerhoatom, stated that the Russian strike "partially destroyed" a building used for storing spent nuclear fuel. The operator emphasized that there were no injuries and that the fire was extinguished, with radiation levels remaining within normal limits.
Enerhoatom criticized Moscow for what it characterized as a deliberate threat to nuclear safety, sentiments echoed by President Zelensky.
Zelensky's Statement on the Attack
In a post on X, Zelensky declared:
"Russia deliberately struck this particular nuclear infrastructure facility."
He described the building as an "extremely critical infrastructure facility" and labeled the attack as "vile."
Overview of Recent Russian Attacks
Zelensky detailed that Russian forces conducted overnight strikes across 13 regions, launching 88 missiles, over 3,250 drones, and 1,800 guided bombs in the past week.
On the preceding Saturday, Ukraine targeted St Petersburg and its surrounding areas with a drone attack coinciding with the final day of a major economic forum. Russian authorities described this attack as "unprecedented." Days earlier, Kyiv had struck the outskirts of the same city—approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Ukraine—during the opening of Russian President Vladimir Putin's flagship forum, producing a large plume of black smoke over the skyline.
Ukraine's Defence Capabilities
Since the onset of Moscow's invasion four years ago, Ukraine has developed its defence sector significantly, enabling Kyiv to regularly target locations within Russia.
Western Support and the E3 Group
The three Western powers represented at the Downing Street meeting—the United Kingdom, France, and Germany—are among Ukraine's strongest allies. The UK and France lead the "coalition of the willing," an initiative aimed at providing security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential future peace process.
Zelensky's Focus for the Talks
Announcing his arrival in the UK on Sunday afternoon via a post on X, Zelensky stated that the primary focus of the leaders' discussions would be:
"Our defence in the war, greater cooperation for the security of all of Europe in the area of air defence, and our shared view of diplomatic prospects."
He added:
"Europe must be part of the negotiations and must be strong."
Context of Previous Meetings and US Mediation Efforts
The E3 group last convened in London in December, at a time when the United States was actively encouraging Moscow and Kyiv to agree swiftly to a plan to end the war in Ukraine. Since then, US mediation efforts have diminished, with Washington shifting its focus toward the conflict in Iran.
Putin Rejects Zelensky's Proposal for Talks
On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Zelensky's proposal for face-to-face negotiations to end the war, stating he saw no point in meeting the Ukrainian leader.
Zelensky had sent an open letter calling for direct negotiations, emphasizing that it would be "wrong to simply wait" for the conflict to regain US attention.
Putin's Position at Economic Forum
Speaking at the economic forum on Friday, Putin reiterated his refusal to meet Zelensky and maintained that a truce would only enable Ukraine to regroup. He stated that Russia would end the war only when its objectives had been achieved.
