Zelensky is welcomed in London after the row with Trump in the White House

Volodymyr Zelensky will be received by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Saturday, the day before a European summit organised in the British capital to reaffirm support for kyiv after the row between the Ukrainian president and Donald Trump in the White House.

Starmer guaranteed his "unwavering support" to the Ukrainian leader on Friday night, after US President Donald Trump kicked him out of the White House threatening to leave him "alone" if he did not reach peace with Russia.

Russia, on the other hand, described Zelensky's visit to Washington as a "complete political and diplomatic failure".

Russian diplomatic spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also accused the Ukrainian leader of being "obsessed with continuing the war", of being "incapable of demonstrating a sense of responsibility" and of "rejecting peace" with Moscow.

Most European leaders have rallied behind the Ukrainian president, stunned by the spectacular quarrel in the Oval Office on Friday in front of cameras around the world, after which Zelensky was prematurely thrown out of the White House without signing the minerals agreement for which he went to Washington.

For German diplomacy, the "unspeakable" dispute between Trump and Zelensky shows that "a new era of infamy has begun."

"It is clear that the free world needs a new leader. It is up to us, the Europeans, to take up this challenge," urged the head of EU diplomacy Kaja Kallas.

With this in mind, fifteen European leaders will meet on Sunday in London for a summit dedicated to European security and Ukraine.

"Continuous military support"
In addition to NATO and the EU, Ukraine, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and Turkey will be represented at the meeting.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who will take part in the summit, held talks on Saturday with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, his services said.

Turkey, which hosted Russian-Ukrainian negotiations at the start of the war three years ago, is ready to do so again, reiterating its support for "the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence" of Ukraine, a diplomatic source in Ankara said.

Downing Street explained that the London summit gives "continuity" to the one held in Paris in mid-February and that it will focus on "strengthening Ukraine's position at present, including continued military support and greater economic pressure on Russia."

The participants will also discuss "the need for Europe to play its role in defence matters" in the face of the risk of withdrawal of the US military and nuclear umbrella.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was ready to "open the discussion" on a possible future European nuclear deterrent after a request to this effect from the future head of the German government, Friedrich Merz.

The conservative, winner of the recent elections, believes that Europe must prepare for "the worst scenario" of a NATO abandoned by Washington.

Zelensky rules out apologising
Ukraine and Europe are following with concern the rapprochement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Moscow and Washington began bilateral negotiations to end the war without inviting Ukraine or the Europeans.

The concern soared after the mind-blowing verbal brawl on Friday in the Oval Office in front of the media from around the world.

Trump lectured Zelensky by telling him that he was "in a very bad position" and "without cards in his hand" and accusing him of playing "with the risk of a third world war".

"Either you reach an agreement or we leave you alone," the Republican told a Ukrainian president who tried to defend himself against accusations from Trump and his vice president, JD Vance.

The Republican tycoon urged his guest to leave, cancelling the press conference, the working lunch and the signing of the minerals agreement. "You can come back when you are ready for peace," he said on his Truth Social network.

Questioned later by the Fox News network, Zelensky acknowledged that it will be "difficult" for Ukraine to contain the Russian invasion without Washington's help, but he expressed hope that he could get the relationship with Trump back on track.

However, he ruled out apologising to the US president as demanded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

On the streets of kyiv, many Ukrainians celebrated the president's determination. "He has not let us down," said Roman Shkanov, a 32-year-old office worker.

But Anna Plachkova, a 26-year-old doctor, is worried about the future consequences. "American support is very important [...] so, unfortunately, I don't think it will be positive for us."