Zelenskyy meets Starmer, Macron and Merz in London after Chornobyl drone strike

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Downing Street on Sunday night, hours after a Russian drone strike damaged a storage centre for spent nuclear fuel near the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. The meeting brought together the leaders of the UK, France and Germany, often referred to as the E3, as they discussed continued support for Ukraine. It also came after a week of heightened hostilities and renewed pressure on diplomatic efforts around the war.

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The strike near Chornobyl was reported to have hit a storage centre for spent nuclear fuel nine miles from the nuclear plant. Zelenskyy said before the talks that Ukraine would not "silently die" and told Sky News that his country would respond and become "stronger and stronger each day". He said the London discussions would focus on support for Ukraine and cooperation on air defence "for the security of all of Europe".

Zelenskyy also thanked the UK and other allies in a social media post for helping strengthen protection and increase pressure on Russia. The London meeting took place as the UK and France continue to lead the so-called coalition of the willing, an initiative aimed at providing security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any peace process. The talks also followed Vladimir Putin's rejection of Zelenskyy's proposal for face-to-face talks on the war.

Zelenskyy described that response as weak and said Ukraine's deep strikes against targets in Russia would continue. The immediate backdrop therefore combined battlefield escalation, diplomatic deadlock and allied efforts to shape any future settlement. The Chornobyl strike adds to the sensitivity of the conflict because of the site's association with nuclear risk and international concern.

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Ukraine's state-owned nuclear operator said the building was partially destroyed, but there were no injuries, a fire was put out and radiation levels remained stable. That limited the immediate physical impact, but the location made the incident politically significant and likely to sharpen calls for stronger air defence and protection of critical infrastructure. It also underlined how the war continues to affect sites with wider European security implications.

The meeting in London also reflected the role of the E3 as a core diplomatic channel for Ukraine. European leaders have been trying to maintain influence over the shape of any future negotiations, especially as Kyiv seeks stronger military backing and clearer security guarantees. Zelenskyy has argued that Europe must be part of the talks and must be strong, while the UK and France have pushed the coalition of the willing as a framework for post-war assurances.

The gathering therefore linked immediate military support with longer-term questions about how any peace process might be enforced. What remains unclear is whether the London talks will produce any new commitments on air defence, security guarantees or wider diplomatic coordination. It is also not yet clear how the latest Russian strike near Chornobyl will affect the next phase of negotiations or the pace of allied support.

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