Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in the United Kingdom for crucial talks in Downing Street with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The discussions focus on European support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia.
Chornobyl Attack Condemned
Before the meeting, Zelensky accused Russia of a deliberate and "vile" attack after Ukrainian officials reported that a drone struck a spent nuclear fuel storage facility near the Chornobyl nuclear plant in northern Ukraine. The Ukrainian state-owned nuclear operator, Enerhoatom, confirmed that the strike "partially destroyed" the storage building but stated that a fire was extinguished, no injuries occurred, and radiation levels remained normal.
Zelensky posted on X, condemning the attack: "Russia deliberately struck this particular nuclear infrastructure facility," calling it an "extremely critical infrastructure facility" and describing the assault as "vile."
Broader Russian Strikes
In the past week, Russia launched 88 missiles, over 3,250 drones, and 1,800 guided bombs across 13 Ukrainian regions, according to Zelensky. Separately, at least three people were killed in a Russian strike on a village outside Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine, an area that has faced relentless attacks recently.
Ukraine Strikes Inside Russia
On Saturday, Ukraine targeted St. Petersburg and its surroundings in a drone attack described as "unprecedented" by Russian authorities. The attack occurred during the final day of a major economic forum in the city. Days earlier, Kyiv had attacked the outskirts of St. Petersburg, about 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine, sending a plume of black smoke over the skyline. Since Russia's invasion began four years ago, Ukraine has developed its defense sector and now regularly hits targets within Russia.
E3 Leaders' Support
The UK, France, and Germany—known as the E3 group—are among Kyiv's strongest allies. The UK and France lead the "coalition of the willing" initiative to provide security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential future peace process. Announcing his arrival in the UK on Sunday, Zelensky stated that the talks would focus on "our defence in the war, greater cooperation for the security of all of Europe in the area of air defence, and our shared view of diplomatic prospects."
