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President Zelenskyy in UK for crunch talks with Sir Keir Starmer

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attend a bilateral meeting during the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attend a bilateral meeting during the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Picture: Alamy

By Danielle de Wolfe

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is visiting the UK today - meeting King Charles - and is expecting to have key talks with Keir Starmer.

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The crunch meeting with the Prime Minister come days after Putin vowed to intensify strikes against Ukraine, with a fresh wave of attacks on Kyiv overnight.

28 people have reportedly died, with a further 150 injured following strikes across the country, with Ukrainian officials saying nearly 30 sites were hit in waves of missile attacks.

It comes as the UK ramped up pressure last week with raft of 100 new sanctions against Russia, after Putin launched his biggest ever drone attack against Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin says he's ready to meet anyone for talks on the war in Ukraine - including Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

But speaking to reporters, Russia's President said he'd only meet him in the "final phase" of any peace negotiation.

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Firefighters work at the site of an indoor swimming pool of the National Technical University hit during the latest Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine this morning (June 23).
Firefighters work at the site of an indoor swimming pool of the National Technical University hit during the latest Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine this morning (June 23). Picture: Alamy
At least six people were killed in Kyiv and 19 were injured during the latest attacks
At least six people were killed in Kyiv and 19 were injured during the latest attacks. Picture: Getty

His comments come after the latest Russian air strikes on Kyiv left 28 people dead.

Last week saw stark wording from the Russian President, as Russia laid claim to all of Ukraine, threatening a nuclear strike for the first time in months.

The Ukrainian President said that he was "preparing joint decisions for defence, in particular with the United Kingdom and the European Union" in a statement on X.

He did not give any further details about Russia's alleged planned military expansion but said he will "keep our partners informed of the facts obtained by our intelligence services".

Mr Zelenksyy added that Ukraine had witnessed a "continued intellectual decline within the Russian leadership".

He also said the sanctions imposed on Russia had "tangibly damaged" its economy and was an effective method to pressurise Vladimir Putin to end the war.