UK, Germany, France Back Direct Ukraine-Russia Dialogue, Zelenskyy Seeks More Missiles

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron for discussions on continued support for Kyiv. The three European leaders, who helm an informal security alliance known as the E3 and are key international backers of Ukraine, met at Downing Street. In a joint statement, they endorsed a proposal for direct dialogue between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, including U.S. and European participation, aimed at achieving a ceasefire. The statement commended Zelenskyy's call for a diplomatic end to the war, referencing an open letter he sent to Putin proposing a face-to-face meeting. Russia had previously dismissed the offer, with Putin stating he saw "no point" in meeting Zelenskyy until a peace deal was agreed upon. During the talks, Zelenskyy informed Starmer of Ukraine's urgent need for additional missiles for its air defense systems. He also highlighted the importance of securing energy infrastructure and preparing for the upcoming winter. The E3 leaders emphasized Europe's crucial role in any settlement as a steadfast supporter of Kyiv. The UK and France also lead the "Coalition of the Willing" initiative, which provides security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace process. Germany remains the largest single contributor of support to Kyiv in absolute terms. Separately, Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian drone struck a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel near the disused Chernobyl plant on Sunday. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed it was informed of the attack and stated that radiation levels at the site remained stable. The facility is located approximately 15 kilometers from the Chernobyl plant, the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster. Officials stated that a container-receiving building was partially destroyed, but the facility did not contain any spent fuel at the time of the strike. A fire that ensued was successfully extinguished.

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I informed Keir about the need for additional missiles for air defense systems and the things that are important for protecting energy infrastructure and preparing for winter.