Starmer Hosts Zelensky, Pushes Long‑Range Aid

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted President Volodymyr Zelensky in London, convening a “coalition of the willing” of European leaders including Mark Rutte and Mette Frederiksen to press allies to bolster Ukraine’s long‑range strike and air‑defence capabilities and agree security guarantees. Starmer urged using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defence, called for stepped‑up weapons provision and announced acceleration of an air‑defence missile manufacturing programme to deliver thousands of missiles. The diplomatic push accompanies new U.S. and EU sanctions targeting Russian energy intended to cripple Moscow’s war economy as Kyiv warned of likely attacks on energy infrastructure ahead of winter. Zelensky met King Charles III and thanked European leaders for military and diplomatic support while stressing the need for greater long‑range capability. He and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo publicly urged the United States to provide Tomahawk cruise missiles, but President Donald Trump declined to allow their delivery, a gap some European leaders say should be filled.