Ukraine’s Zelensky arrives in London for talks with UK’s Starmer, NATO’s Rutte

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speak during a bilateral meeting inside 10 Downing Street in London on Oct. 10, 2024. (Reuters)

• Zelensky and Starmer have both said the war with Russia is at a critical point
• Ukrainian leader is keen for the West to deliver long-range missiles to change the balance on the battlefield

LONDON: President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in London for talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO chief Mark Rutte on Thursday, a boost for Ukraine after a summit of its main backers was canceled at a difficult moment in its fight against Russia.
Zelensky and Starmer have both said the war with Russia is at a critical point, and the Ukrainian leader is keen for the West to deliver long-range missiles and other support to try to change the balance on the battlefield.
The Ukrainian president had been due to present a “victory plan” for the war to allies in Germany this week, but the summit was postponed after US President Joe Biden canceled his visit to focus on Hurricane Milton.
Starmer said at the start of his meeting with Zelensky in Downing Street that it was “very important we are able to show our continued commitment to support Ukraine” and it was a chance to “go through the plan, to talk in more detail.”
NATO’s new secretary-general, Mark Rutte, was also due to meet Starmer and Zelensky in Downing Street later on Thursday.
Zelensky is traveling in Europe to meet allies this week. He was in Croatia on Wednesday and will meet Pope Francis on Friday.
Ukraine’s arms donors had been set to convene at the Ramstein Air Base for their highest-level meeting on the sidelines of a Biden state visit to Germany.
But the White House said Biden needed to oversee preparations for Hurricane Milton and relief efforts after another hurricane last month killed more than 200 people.