Full story
Zelensky's London peace talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in London on Dec. 8 with Britain's Keir Starmer, France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Friedrich Merz to shore up European backing and prepare to share a revised peace plan with the United States the following day.
“Zelensky will share a revised 20-point peace plan with the US on Dec 9”
Several outlets report the revised plan as a 20-point text that Kyiv will hand to U.S. officials, a compression from an earlier 28-point draft that Zelensky said was pared after removal of so-called anti-Ukrainian elements.
The Downing Street meeting was framed as more than a photo-op, with leaders stressing the need for tangible security guarantees and a just and lasting ceasefire as they coordinate with Washington and NATO in Brussels.
Ukraine deal negotiations
Zelensky and European leaders made clear that Kyiv will not accept any deal that requires ceding territory, repeatedly describing territorial concessions as the main sticking point.
European capitals also pushed to ensure the U.S. text would be complemented by robust security guarantees from both Washington and EU partners, with several outlets reporting leaders sought stronger, concrete guarantees and discussions of how partners would respond to future Russian aggression.
At the same time, U.S. envoys including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have been active in negotiating drafts with Moscow and Kyiv, though those talks reportedly produced no breakthrough.
Ukraine security and financing
European leaders used the meeting to press for stronger security guarantees.
“discussed using frozen Russian assets (around €210bn) for Ukraine’s benefit”
They also explored creative financing for Ukraine’s recovery, including proposals to use frozen Russian sovereign assets to fund reconstruction.
Reports indicate several EU countries pushed Brussels to act quickly on the frozen-assets idea.
Leaders discussed how those frozen funds could be deployed alongside U.S. security commitments.
NATO and EU chiefs convened in Brussels for parallel talks.
Ukraine’s team planned to brief President Zelensky on recent U.S.-Russia discussions and to hand over its draft proposals.
Transatlantic response to proposal
The transatlantic backdrop remains fraught after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Ukraine’s handling of the proposal.
Trump said he was frustrated that Zelensky had not yet read the proposal and suggested that Russia was likely fine with it.
Other reports say he was 'a little bit disappointed' by Zelensky’s reading of the draft, fueling European concern about U.S. commitment.
Several European leaders expressed skepticism about some details in U.S.-released documents.
They also underscored that any ceasefire must be just and lasting, reflecting public tension and diplomatic attempts to keep Washington and European capitals aligned.
European support for Ukraine
Leaders concluded the London session with a commitment to keep working to strengthen Ukraine's negotiating position and to complement U.S. efforts with European contributions, including stepped-up military, humanitarian and economic measures.
“agreed to continue intensive work to bolster Ukraine’s negotiating position and to complement the U.S. plan with European contributions.”
Several outlets reported that national leaders and a broader “Coalition of the Willing” planned follow-up talks, and Zelensky was due to brief NATO and EU leaders in Brussels as the next step.
Reporting diverges on whether Europe can or will fully replace U.S. backing, with some pieces questioning Europe's capacity to fill gaps if Washington does not commit.
Other reports stress concrete pledges of additional support from politicians such as Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Britain’s Keir Starmer.