Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in London on Friday for high-stakes talks with over two dozen European leaders, focusing on bolstering military aid to Ukraine amid its protracted war with Russia. Hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Foreign Office, the meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" includes NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof in person, with about 20 others joining via video link. The agenda prioritises protecting Ukraine's vulnerable power grid from intensifying Russian drone and missile assaults as winter looms, enhancing air defences, and delivering long-range missiles capable of deep strikes into Russian territory. Starmer emphasised the need for unity, stating, “Time and again we offer Putin the chance to end his needless invasion... but he repeatedly rejects those proposals and any chance of peace.”

The discussions come as Western allies grapple with Russia's unyielding refusal to negotiate, despite fresh sanctions targeting its oil and gas revenues—the lifeblood of its war machine. Launched in recent days by the United States and European nations, these measures aim to squeeze Moscow's economy, though Putin has exploited sanction loopholes through shadow fleets and third-country trades. Zelenskyy's visit builds on a series of diplomatic offensives, including last week's U.S. package of $2.2 billion in military financing, underscoring Europe's determination to deter future aggression even if a ceasefire materialises. The war, Europe's largest since World War II, nears its fourth anniversary in February 2026, having claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions, with no end in sight amid a grinding attritional stalemate along a 1,000-kilometre front.

Central to the London talks is fleshing out a proposed "reassurance force" to safeguard Ukraine post-ceasefire, likely comprising air and naval assets rather than ground troops to avoid escalation. UK Defence Secretary John Healey described it as “a force to help secure the skies, secure the seas, and a force to help train Ukrainian forces to defend their nation”, with headquarters rotating annually between London and Paris. Broader uncertainties loom large: how to finance Ukraine's reconstruction, estimated at $486 billion by the World Bank; what security guarantees—potentially akin to NATO's Article 5—can be extended; and clarifying the incoming U.S. administration's role under President-elect commitments. These questions reflect alliance fatigue, with some European nations urging burden-sharing amid domestic economic strains from energy shocks.

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The summit unfolds against a backdrop of escalating violence, with both sides reporting heavy overnight drone exchanges. Russia's Defence Ministry claimed to have downed 111 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions, including one that struck an apartment building in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, injuring five—including a child—and prompting flight suspensions at three airports. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed three interceptions over the capital. In retaliation, Ukrainian officials reported Russian artillery killing two and wounding 11 in Kherson, while 72 of 128 incoming Russian drones were neutralised. Ukrzaliznytsia announced rail disruptions in three regions from shelling-damaged infrastructure. As attrition persists, the London gathering signals a pivot toward sustainable support, pressuring Putin while fortifying Europe's eastern flank for an uncertain peace.

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