Ukraine war live: Number 10 says Europe must 'ramp up' economic pressure on Russia after Zelenskyy meeting – as it happened

The article discusses a meeting between four European leaders - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy - in London to discuss the ongoing conflict with Russia. The meeting is seen as an attempt to strengthen ties between Europe and Ukraine, while also addressing concerns about US involvement in the conflict.

The article highlights that the tone of the opening remarks was somber, indicating that the leaders face urgent issues that need to be resolved soon. Zelenskyy stressed the importance of unity between Europe, Ukraine, and the US, while Macron emphasized the need for a just and lasting peace settlement for Ukraine.

Merz expressed skepticism about some of the details in the US-led peace proposals, but emphasized his strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty. He also stated that the destiny of Ukraine is tied to the destiny of Europe.

The leaders will continue their talks behind closed doors, focusing on finding common ground and addressing concerns about security guarantees and post-war reconstruction. The meeting is seen as a crucial step in strengthening European unity and cooperation with Ukraine, while also navigating the complexities of US involvement in the conflict.

"United we stand, divided we fall." The fact that these four European leaders are coming together to discuss the ongoing conflict with Russia shows that there's still a commitment to unity among them. It's clear that Ukraine's sovereignty is at stake and that they're willing to put aside their differences for the greater good. Whether or not the talks will lead to concrete progress remains to be seen, but it's heartening to see leaders from different countries coming together in support of Ukraine.

This whole thing feels like a setup for another Cold War, you know? I mean, four of the top European leaders all in one room, talking about "unity" and "sovereignty"... it's all just a bit too perfect. What are they really discussing behind those closed doors? Are they planning some kind of joint military operation to take down Russia? Or is this all just about keeping Ukraine under our collective thumb? I don't trust it, you know?

OMG, can you believe these leaders are finally getting together to figure out this Russia mess?! I'm so down for some unity and peace talks! Zelenskyy's right, we gotta stick together as Europe and Ukraine, that's like, super important. And Macron's all about a just peace settlement, which is awesome. I mean, who doesn't want to see an end to all this fighting?

But, for real though, Merz's skepticism about the US proposals is kinda cool. It shows he's thinking critically and not just going along with whatever. And, tbh, I think it's time we talk about some actual concrete plans for post-war reconstruction. Like, what's gonna happen to Ukraine? How are we gonna support 'em?

I'm all for this meeting, though! It's a good start, and fingers crossed they can figure out something amazing.

idk about this meeting... it seems like just another attempt to put a united front against Russia . don't get me wrong, i'm all for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and stuff, but can we really trust that it's not just a PR stunt? i mean, have you seen the way these leaders are always talking about "unity" and " cooperation"... sounds like some pretty vague promises to me . and what's with the US involvement again? can't they just leave us europeans to figure it out ourselves for once? i'm not saying we shouldn't help Ukraine, but do we really need the US breathing down our necks too?

I don’t usually comment but... I think it's kinda cool that these leaders from Europe and Ukraine are finally sitting down together to figure out what's gonna happen next . I mean, it's been a pretty tough few years for Ukraine, and they deserve some help and support. The fact that Macron is talking about a just and lasting peace settlement for Ukraine sounds like a big step forward . And it's good to see Merz being open about his concerns with the US proposals – I guess we need more people speaking up about these kinds of issues . The real question now is what happens next... will they be able to find some common ground and make something happen?

the thing that struck me most from this whole scenario is how even when we come together on something as big as global politics, it's the smaller stuff that can lead to some major breakthroughs . like, if you think about it, Merz was skeptical of those US-led peace proposals at first, but he still showed his support for Ukraine... that's gotta be said for someone being open-minded enough to put their concerns aside and see things from a different perspective.

and then Macron brings up this whole idea of "a just and lasting peace settlement" - that's what we should all be striving for, right? it's easy to get caught up in the bigger picture and forget about the little details, but if we can take some time to really listen to each other and understand where people are coming from, that's when the real progress happens . so yeah, this whole meeting might just be a small step towards something much bigger...

I'm literally shaking with anxiety reading this . These leaders are trying to fix this mess that's been going on for ages but it feels like they're just scratching the surface . I mean, Merz is being super cautious about the peace proposals and that's fair, we can't just rush into something without thinking it through . But at the same time, you can feel the desperation from Zelenskyy and Macron - they need a solution now, like seriously now .

And what's with all these talks behind closed doors? How much are they really being told about what's going on? Is anyone even listening to each other? It feels like we're just sitting in the dark, waiting for someone to make a move . I wish they'd be more open and honest with us - the public - we're the ones who have to live with the consequences of their decisions .

I'm all for unity and cooperation between Europe and Ukraine, but let's get real, this is just a band-aid solution . We need concrete actions, not just words and promises . I hope these leaders can actually deliver something tangible this time around .

so europe is like one big family or something? they're all tryin to figure out how to help ukraine without messin' each other up. seems like zelenskyy's on a roll with the unity speech, but merz's concerns about those us peace proposals got me thinkin... what if it's just too complicated?

anyway, i'm all for the europeans stickin together and supportin ukraine, 'specially since russia's been actin like a big bully.

here's a diagram of the situation:
```
+---------------+
| Europe |
+---------------+
|
|
v
+---------------+ +---------------+
| Ukraine | | US |
+---------------+ +---------------+
| |
| |
v v
+---------------+ +---------------+
| Russia | | Other countries |
+---------------+ +---------------+
```
i'm just a visual thinker, not a diplomat, but it seems like these leaders are tryin to find common ground and get their act together.

thinkin' about it its like, when people from different places come together to solve big problems they gotta set aside their own differences 4 a sec, u feel? got my respect 4 Merz's honesty tho, its good 2 see someone speak truth 2 power even if its not easy. Zelenskyy's right 2 stress unity & cooperation, but we also need 2 acknowledge the elephant in the room - US involvement. can't just ignore it or pretend its not there. gotta find a balance b/w helping Ukraine & respecting their agency. that's where the real challenge lies

Just read that the four European leaders got together to discuss the Russia-Ukraine thingy... I'm kinda worried about the whole situation, tbh . It's like, they're all trying to help Ukraine out, but with all the conflicting opinions and interests at play, it's hard to see a clear solution. And then you gotta factor in US involvement... it's like adding another layer of complexity . Still, I'm glad they're having this meeting – it's a step in the right direction, even if it's just one small step .

omg u guys i just got back from london and literally all i can think about r what those leaders were talking about they're soooo worried bout ukraine rn it's like, we get it, it's a big deal but can't they just talk to each other instead of all these meetings anyway i saw frazzled keir starmer trying 2 keep everyone calm lol he's so extra and merz was like the grumpy uncle always questioning stuff but still supporting ukraine in general zelenskyy tho, bless his heart he just wants peace and unity for all the meeting might not have been super productive but at least they're tryin' right?

So like 60% of Europeans are totally down for increased EU-Ukraine cooperation , but 40% are worried about the financial burden . Meanwhile, the US is all about providing military aid and sanctions to Russia . On a positive note, Ukraine's economy is expected to grow by 10% this year thanks to foreign investment . Also, did you know that since the conflict started in 2014, Ukraine has received over $15 billion in humanitarian aid ?

Here are some stats to consider:
- The European Union has provided €12 billion in economic support to Ukraine since 2022
- The US has pledged $6.5 billion in military and economic assistance to Ukraine
- Russia's military spending is expected to decrease by 1% this year due to sanctions

Oh, and I just remembered... Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the youngest head of state in Europe , born when he was just 38 years old!

Just read that the meeting between these four leaders was pretty intense . I mean, you can tell they're all on the same page about wanting peace for Ukraine, but at the same time, there's a bit of tension between them about how to get there. It's like when Tony Stark and Steve Rogers are trying to come up with a plan to save the world in that Avengers movie .

I'm kinda curious about what's going on behind closed doors, though. Are they gonna figure out some way for everyone to get along? It feels like they need to find common ground, you know? Like when Leslie Knope from Parks and Rec is trying to make her community a better place - she always finds a way to bring people together .

I'm rooting for them to make this work. The world could use some unity right now .

I think it's awesome to see these European leaders get together like this . It's clear they're all super concerned about what's happening in Ukraine and want to find a way to make things right. I mean, can you imagine if we were facing something like that? It'd be so much easier with Europe and the US having each other's backs.

But at the same time, I'm not surprised Merz was skeptical about some of those peace proposals . We've seen how politics can get messy when it comes to international relations. Still, I think it's great that he's showing support for Ukraine's sovereignty - that's the right move .

I'm curious to see what kind of agreements they'll be able to come to, though . The leaders mentioned security guarantees and post-war reconstruction, but I wonder if there are any other issues that need to be addressed. One thing's for sure: this meeting is a good start .

Just got my hands on that London meet between EU leaders , gotta say, it's looking pretty serious . Ukraine's future is literally hanging by a thread over there, and I'm really glad those leaders are putting their heads together to try and figure something out . I mean, Zelenskyy's message of unity was spot on - Europe needs to step up its game for Ukraine . And yeah, Macron's all about finding a lasting peace settlement - we can't keep living with this uncertainty . But, what's really got me thinking is how US involvement is gonna play into all this . Should be interesting to see how that shakes out...

This meeting between EU leaders feels like a huge deal, right? I mean, four top leaders coming together to discuss Ukraine - it's not just about politics, it's about people lives. The tone was serious, and that somber vibe is definitely what you need when dealing with something as complex as this conflict.

I'm glad Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of unity between Europe, Ukraine, and the US - we really do need to work together if we want to find a solution that works for everyone. And Macron's message about a just peace settlement for Ukraine is totally on point - let's get this done!

But what I'm most curious about is how Merz's skepticism about US-led proposals is going to play out in the talks behind closed doors. Is it really possible to find common ground on security guarantees and post-war reconstruction? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: we need more of these kinds of conversations happening ASAP!

just hope these 4 european leaders can figure out something to end this whole russia ukraine thing soon it's getting super draining for everyone involved. think they should try to find a solution that works for all parties involved, not just one side. been following this situation for ages and still no clear answers in sight

I'm reading this news about the EU leaders meeting with Zelenskyy and I gotta say... it feels like they're trying to tackle so many issues at once, you know? Russia's still causing problems for Ukraine and Europe, but now we've got US involvement too... it's a lot to wrap your head around . On one hand, I love that Zelenskyy is pushing for unity between EU, Ukraine, and the US - it makes sense, right? And Macron's all about finding a just peace settlement for Ukraine, which is totally fair .

But Merz seems a bit hesitant with those US-led proposals... like, he wants to support Ukraine but also needs to be cautious about what they're getting into . I'm not sure if it's possible to find common ground on all this stuff, but I guess that's why they're having these talks behind closed doors .

For me, the key is finding a balance between security guarantees and post-war reconstruction... that's gotta be a major focus for them . Can't just leave Ukraine hanging like that . And if Europe can come together to support Ukraine, I think we'll be a stronger, more united bloc in the end

omg u guys i am literally so exhausted watching these world leaders try to figure out what's gonna happen next with russia i mean i get it they're trying to come together but it feels like they're all just dancing around the same issue and nobody knows how to stop the dance ‍ anyway back to zelenskyy his words were so powerful about unity and peace and stuff and i am literally getting emotional thinking about it but seriously can we just have a clear plan here already merz's skepticism is giving me anxiety though what if their concerns are valid? what if us involvement is actually making things worse? i don't know what to think anymore