Britain's King Charles III welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
Britain’s King Charles III welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Windsor Castle for an audience and lunch, amidst ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
The meeting comes as Zelensky seeks to rally international support for Ukraine’s defense efforts ahead of a NATO summit in The Hague.
During their meeting, Charles and Zelensky discussed the ongoing conflict, with the Ukrainian president having traveled to the UK to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and discuss ways to increase pressure on Russia.
Zelensky was seen dressed in a black blazer and trousers, a departure from his usual combat fatigues.
The meeting follows reports of a recent escalation in Russian attacks, with over 350 drones and 16 missiles fired at Ukraine, resulting in at least 10 civilian deaths.
Zelensky condemned the attacks, stating that preliminary reports indicate Russia used North Korean missiles to attack Kyiv. “Those two countries, and Iran, are a coalition of murderers,” he said.
Zelensky’s visit to the UK precedes the NATO summit, where increased defense spending is expected to be a key topic. Although Zelensky has been invited to the summit, it remains unclear whether he will attend. A Downing Street spokesman confirmed that Prime Minister Starmer will host Zelensky and reiterate the UK’s “steadfast support for Ukraine”.
