Zelensky arrives for Starmer talks as Western support for Ukraine falters

Volodymyr Zelensky met Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street in July
Volodymyr Zelensky met Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street in July - Benjamin Cremel/Reuters

Volodymyr Zelensky visits Downing Street on Thursday, more than two and a half years on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Western support for Ukraine’s battle against the Kremlin starting to fracture.

Even Joe Biden and his supposedly hawkish White House staff were less than impressed with the Ukrainian president’s “victory plan”, which US officials complained was more a wishlist for weapons than a strategy to defeat Russia.

Despite pressure from Downing Street, Mr Biden also ignored Mr Zelensky’s pleas to be allowed to fire Western missiles at Russia.

Western missiles striking Russian targets are central to the Ukrainian president’s vision of how his country will win the war.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, canvassing for weapons and Nato support in Europe
Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, canvassing for weapons and Nato support in Europe - Andy Rain/Shutterstock

For the past 10 days, unnamed European and US sources have been briefing that it may be time to cut a deal with the Kremlin.

Russia has been advancing along the front line, with Vladimir Putin scoring diplomatic wins in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East – critical for pushing international agendas.

Most of these unnamed sources have suggested that Ukraine could give up land it has lost to Russia since the start of the war in return for Nato membership.

But Mr Zelensky has always been adamant that he will not concede an inch of Ukrainian territory and, in many ways, his political credibility relies on that promise.

London is a stop on a European tour this week in which the Ukrainian president is again canvassing for weapons and Nato support. Europe is feeling the shockwaves of recent electoral successes of Russia-friendly parties largely tied to the hard-Right.

In Britain, Mr Zelensky can rely on Sir Keir Starmer to continue to back him, just as the other three prime ministers have since the start of Russia’s invasion.

Whether or not he can keep together a unified front elsewhere is the challenge he faces, with one eye on the US election.