UK PM joins Donald Trump, Zelenskyy on Ukraine talks
Downing Street says Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with US President Donald Trump, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders on Sunday 28 December 2025. The readout says they discussed steps toward a 'just and lasting peace' and underlined the need for 'robust security guarantees', with leaders praising President Trump for progress so far. The note was published on Monday 29 December.
If you’re learning this story for the first time, map the actors. The UK Prime Minister is looking to align allies; the US President holds crucial military and diplomatic weight; Ukraine’s president is seeking terms that protect sovereignty and people; and European leaders bring money, industry and political cover. The readout did not list which European leaders joined, which is common for brief notices of fast‑moving diplomacy.
Word watch: 'security guarantees'. When leaders use this phrase, they usually mean long‑term defence and economic promises, not a one‑off arms shipment. In July 2023, the G7 set out a template for these promises: allies would strike bilateral deals with Ukraine covering modern weapons, training, intelligence sharing, cyber defence and economic support to keep the state resilient.
It’s also helpful to know what these guarantees are not. They are not the same as NATO’s Article 5 mutual defence pledge. Under the G7 approach, if Russia attacks again, partners consult immediately and move to provide sustained military and economic help and raise costs on Russia; the plan does not automatically commit them to send their own troops into combat.
Where the UK already stands matters for context. In January 2025, the UK and Ukraine signed a 100 Year Partnership deepening defence ties, maritime security and industrial and educational cooperation-building on a UK‑Ukraine security co‑operation agreement signed in January 2024. These moves show how 'security guarantees' are already being written into long‑term documents.
Reading the language helps us understand the stakes. Phrases such as 'commended President Trump for the progress achieved so far' point to Washington’s central role in the current talks. 'Sustain momentum in the coming days' suggests teams are working quickly to turn ideas into text that leaders can sign off.
What we still don’t know is important too. The readout shares no draft terms, timelines or which countries will underwrite which parts of the guarantees. There’s no detail on territory, monitoring or how sanctions, reconstruction finance and accountability might be sequenced-those usually arrive later in formal documents.
Why the phrase 'just and lasting' matters: 'just' points to principles in the UN Charter such as sovereignty and territorial integrity; 'lasting' suggests a peace that can hold because Ukraine has the strength and backing to deter renewed aggression. That is why recent G7 statements often pair peace language with long‑term support.
If you’re studying this, try a quick exercise. Sketch two columns-goals on one side (end the war, protect civilians, rebuild) and tools on the other (security guarantees, sanctions, reconstruction funds, war‑crimes accountability). Ask which tools best serve which goals, and what trade‑offs leaders might be weighing.
The bottom line for now: on 28 December the UK Prime Minister, President Trump, President Zelenskyy and European leaders discussed peace in Ukraine and the need for firm security guarantees. The UK says it will keep working with partners in the coming days, so expect more documents and clearer terms to follow.