Zelenskyy to UK, Starmer Gives Loan for Arms Production

LONDON, SATURDAY — The United Kingdom has disbursed a loan of 2.8 billion US dollars to support Ukraine's defense capabilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will utilize the funds to produce weaponry in Ukraine.

The funds are likely to be disbursed next week. The loan is taken from profits from Russian state assets frozen by the UK.

That was the United Kingdom's contribution to a support package worth 50 billion US dollars promised by the G7 group. The UK's support for Ukraine was provided following turmoil at the White House involving United States President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelenskyy.

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko signed an agreement to provide the loan on Saturday (1/3/2025).

The first phase of funding from the loan is expected to be disbursed to Ukraine next week. "I thank the people and government of the United Kingdom for their extraordinary support since the beginning of this war," wrote Zelenskyy on the social media platform X.

A day after the turmoil at the White House, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer embraced Zelenskyy outside the Prime Minister's office at 10 Downing St, London, on Saturday. Starmer told Zelenskyy that he had the full support of the United Kingdom.

The two leaders met ahead of the European leaders' summit in the United Kingdom. They will meet to discuss how European countries can support Ukraine—and themselves—if the U.S. withdraws its support. This issue is considered increasingly urgent following the "White House turmoil" between Zelenskyy and Trump as well as Vance.

After meeting with Zelenskyy, Starmer spoke with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday evening. Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with King Charles III of England on Sunday, ahead of the summit of European leaders at Lancaster House, near Buckingham Palace.

Starmer has sought to revive hopes for peace in Ukraine. But what matters now is whether Europe can take the lead—if the US does indeed back down—in providing arms and financial support to Ukraine. In that regard, Germany has called for $3.1 billion in funds to be released to Ukraine.

Starmer hopes Europe will offer more concrete solutions to support Ukraine and try to revive the possibility of a peace deal with Russia. One way is to convince Trump that Europe can step up its defense.

Several European leaders have urged Zelenskyy to return to talks with Trump. Polish President Andrzej Duda, for example, urged Zelenskyy to find a way to restore ties with the US.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also said the US, Ukraine and Europe needed to unite to secure lasting peace in Ukraine. “I spoke twice on the phone with President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy. I told him, we need to come together, the United States, Ukraine and Europe to bring Ukraine to lasting peace,” Rutte told the BBC.

Starmer said three years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe was at a turning point. It must provide unwavering support for Ukraine by redoubling its capacity, training and assistance.

Starmer has proposed that Britain act as a bridge between Europe and the US, and will hold bilateral talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

They will then be joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen, Rutte, and the leaders of Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Romania. Turkey's foreign minister will also attend. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also flying to London for the meeting.

Meloni called for an emergency summit involving the US, European countries and allies to discuss how to deal with the major challenges they face, such as Ukraine.

European leaders are expected to again press for peace talks involving Ukraine, strengthening Ukraine's position and agreeing on the security guarantees needed to ensure a lasting peace and deter future Russian aggression.

That means persuading the US to offer a shortcut, perhaps in the form of air cover, intelligence and surveillance, as well as a larger, as-yet-unspecified threat if Putin again tries to take more territory.

Europe has a lot to do. Starmer now seems keen to focus on lowering the temperature after the Trump-Zelenskyy White House rift. (REUTERS/AFP/AP)