European allies back Zelensky

LONDON:

Ukraine's European allies put on a show of support for President Volodymyr Zelensky Monday as they expressed scepticism about parts of the US proposal to end the war with Russia.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron at his Downing Street residence in London.

The discussions came after President Donald Trump accused Zelensky of not reading his administration's proposal on a deal to end Russia's invasion following almost four years of war.

That came after days of talks between Ukrainian and US officials in Miami ended on Saturday with no apparent breakthrough, with Zelensky committing to further negotiations.

"I'm sceptical about some of the details which we are seeing in the documents coming from the US side, but we have to talk about it. That's why we are here," Merz said at the top of Monday's meeting, without specifying which version of the proposal he was referring to.

Macron said the "main issue" is finding a "convergence" between the European and Ukrainian position and that of the United States.

Starmer hugged Zelensky as he welcomed the Ukrainian leader to Downing Street shortly after 1:00 pm, with the talks lasting a little over an hour.