Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer sits alongside Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and the Netherlands’ Prime Minister Dick Schoof as they gather in central London on October 24, 2025. Henry Nicholls/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Based on data from CNN
European leaders have united around action against Russia within a coalition of the willing that gathered in London to discuss strategies for ending the war in Ukraine.
They called for broader engagement of countries in sanctions against Russian oil companies after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new wave of restrictive measures against Russia, including against Rosneft and Lukoil.
In response to the U.S. moves, the EU introduced additional restrictions and said it would support Ukraine for the next two years.
Europe continues to feel mounting pressure from the prolonged standoff: Russian air operations in Europe continue, and devastating strikes are again hitting Ukraine’s infrastructure.
Despite calls for talks from Trump and other world leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin remains steadfast in his maximalist demands regarding Kyiv and rejects an immediate ceasefire.
Key Leaders’ Statements
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer stressed that Ukraine’s security is closely linked to the security of many countries, including his own.
“The future of Ukraine is our future. What happens in the coming weeks and months will be decisive for the security of the United Kingdom and all our NATO allies and beyond.”
“Last week Britain became the first country to impose sanctions on all Russian oil companies,” said Starmer on Friday. He added that the “combined impact” of U.S., U.K., and EU sanctions is not only hitting the Russian economy but also demonstrates that countries are “clearly coordinating” their efforts to support Ukraine and doing so effectively.
The Prime Minister urged expanding the sanctions list and reducing global markets’ dependence on Russian oil to lessen its impact on the economy and spur other countries to stop purchasing these resources.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Trump and other “partners” who took similar actions, calling the oil sanctions “a major step.”
“Diplomacy only matters when it can lead to real solutions. And when it comes to Russia, there are many ingredients in this matter. The main ones are real forms of pressure on Russia, sanctions, our long-term capabilities, political pressure, accountability for war crimes, and real actions against Russian assets.”
Zelensky expressed a request for the United States to supply long-range Tomahawk missiles to enable the Ukrainian army to carry out targeted strikes against targets deep in Russia’s rear. First he visited Washington, where he met Trump, and then he addressed the Rada with a call to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons.
In London, participants in the coalition meeting reaffirmed their willingness to remain united in the effort against Russia. They said the main goal is to intensify economic pressure to accelerate the path to peace.
“The truth is that Putin is running out of money, troops and ideas”
“Now is the time to intensify pressure on Russia to finally achieve a just peace for Ukraine”
Participants at the meeting affirmed their readiness to continue coordinating actions on economic pressure and international support for Ukraine to stabilize the front and accelerate the peace process.
We recommend paying attention to:
- Ukraine’s President Zelensky to attend Coalition of the Willing meeting in London on October 24, with several European leaders expected to join.
- France and the UK announce new arms deliveries to Ukraine, including Aster missiles and Mirage jets, accelerating support amid ongoing conflict and sanctions on Russia.
- 45 countries sharply criticize Russia’s UN Security Council meeting amid ongoing war in Ukraine, condemning aggression and calling for peace and security guarantees.
