Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on October 10, 2024, in London to discuss Ukraine's request for British-made Storm Shadow missiles to target Russian positions. This meeting comes as Russian forces have made significant gains in eastern Ukraine, heightening the urgency of Ukraine's military needs.
During the bilateral talks, Zelenskyy is expected to emphasize the importance of these missiles for Ukraine's defense strategy. Following the meeting with Sunak, Zelenskyy will join NATO's new Secretary General Mark Rutte for a trilateral discussion on Ukraine's potential membership in NATO, which is part of Zelenskyy's broader 'Victory Plan.'
After London, Zelenskyy will travel to Paris for discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and then to Rome to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He is also scheduled to visit Berlin for a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, following the cancellation of a planned state visit by U.S. President Joe Biden to Germany.
This series of meetings underscores the increasing international focus on Ukraine's military support as it faces ongoing aggression from Russia.