VOA News | Saturday, March 1, 2025 
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy gets warm welcome from UK’s Starmer

LONDON — U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday gave Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a warm welcome in London, a day after the Ukrainian leader’s clash with U.S. President Donald Trump. The two countries also unveiled a $2.84 billion loan agreement to support Ukraine’s defense capabilities, to be paid back with the profits of immobilized sovereign Russian assets. Supporters cheered as Zelenskyy’s convoy swept onto Downing Street, where he was embraced by Starmer and posed for photographs before heading inside the U.K. leader’s home. “You’re very, very welcome here in Downing Street,” Starmer told Zelenskyy. “And as you’ve heard from the cheers street outside, you have full backing across the United Kingdom, and we stand with you with Ukraine for as long as it may take,” he added. “I want to thank you, the people of the United Kingdom, for such big support from the very beginning of this war,” responded Zelenskyy, who is due to meet King Charles III on Sunday. The pair met behind closed doors for around 75 minutes and embraced again as Starmer escorted Zelenskyy to his car. Earlier Saturday Zelenskyy had stressed that Trump’s support was still crucial for Ukraine despite their row the previous day. The clash was a further shock to Kyiv’s European allies, still adjusting to Washington’s new stance on the war. On Friday, Trump berated Zelenskyy for not being ready for peace with Russia, triggering alarm across Europe. “Yesterday evening underlined that a new age of infamy has begun,” said Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Starmer were…Read more