Zelensky Meets Starmer, Macron, Merz in London After Russian Drone Hits Chernobyl Fuel Storage

Leaders including Volodymyr Zelensky met in London with Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz, hours after a Russian attack in the Chernobyl area damaged a spent nuclear fuel storage facility and sparked a fire.

“Zelensky urges Europe to develop more autonomous defense capabilities”

Anadolu Ajansı

The Italian-language report says the raid involved drones that damaged a center of spent nuclear fuel in the Kiev region, “a soli 15 chilometri dalla centrale nucleare di Chernobyl,” and that Zelensky called it “Un attacco estremamente vile.”

Anadolu Ajansı

The same report says the International Atomic Energy Agency announced it would soon visit the site, while Energoatom reported that a Russian drone struck a building inside the site of the spent nuclear fuel storage facility and caused a fire.

In Kyiv, the BBC-style account says an air-raid alert was declared due to the threat of a possible ballistic missile launch, and it also reports a power blackout in Zaporizhzhia following a Russian drone attack overnight.

The Il Sole 24 ORE report quotes Energoatom and the IAEA framing, saying radiation levels “remain within established limits” even as the IAEA said its team will soon inspect the damages.

Zelensky told Sky News that freezing the front lines is “the fastest way” to a ceasefire, and he said Ukraine “will not cede the Donbas.”

The London joint declaration described the “support for the proposal for a direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia—with the active participation of the United States and Europe—to reach a ceasefire and support further negotiations,” and it said the E3 leaders and Zelensky reiterated “unwavering support” for Kyiv.

DIE WELT

In the five-point plan described by Tgcom24, the leaders said the “linea di contatto” should serve as the starting point for talks and that any element related to the EU and NATO must be subject to agreement by the EU and its member states as well as the allies.

Tgcom24 also says the leaders backed direct dialogue “con la partecipazione attiva degli Stati Uniti e dell'Europa,” and it adds that they discussed using the next G7 summit in Evian, the next meeting of the coalition of Volenterosi, and the NATO summit in Ankara to coordinate continued support.

The Il Giornale account frames the same London meeting as support for direct Moscow-Kyiv dialogue and says the leaders backed Zelensky’s proposal for direct dialogue while reiterating Western support for Kyiv would continue uninterrupted.

Zelensky’s push for direct talks also drew on Roman Abramovich as an intermediary, with the Financial Times reporting that Zelensky invited Chelsea’s former owner to Kyiv “in an attempt, then unsuccessful, to persuade Vladimir Putin to hold direct peace talks.”

“Continue without Accepting Cookies This site uses cookies or other technical trackers and, with your consent, also uses profiling cookies or other tracking tools, shared with our 1013 partners, to send you personalized advertising and offer you services in line with your preferences, as well as to monitor visitors’ behavior”

Fanpage

France 24 says Zelensky asked Abramovich to deliver “messages” to Putin for direct negotiations, and it quotes Zelensky describing Abramovich as trying to let the Kremlin know Ukraine was open to a meeting “whatever the format” and “any time.”

The Tgcom24 report adds that the summit happened after Putin rejected Zelensky’s recent letter proposing a bilateral meeting, and it says Zelensky posted that “L’Europa deve essere parte integrante dei negoziati e deve essere forte.”

Anadolu Ajansı reports Zelensky urged Europe to develop more autonomous defense capabilities at the Bucharest Nine summit, saying “Europe cannot depend on changing geopolitical moods,” and it links that call to deeper integration of resources, production and defense capabilities.

In parallel, DIE WELT reports Zelensky sharply criticized companies in European countries “whose sole purpose is to work for Russia,” and it says he warned of a new attack on Ukraine tonight, telling his audience to heed alarm signals and seek shelter in bomb shelters.