Volodymyr Zelenskyy was received by the king at Sandringham, his Norfolk estate, following the prime minister’s summit for European leaders.
After Charles extended a personal invitation to Donald Trump for a second state visit to the UK as part of diplomatic efforts, the king played a key role in international affairs once more.
Zelenskyy arrived at Sandringham House by helicopter from London just before 5.30 pm and met with Charles for nearly an hour, including a refreshments break. It was reported that Zelenskyy was warmly welcomed.
The UK government agreed to the meeting after a request from the Ukrainian president.
A statement from Buckingham Palace confirmed, “This evening, His Majesty The King received the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in the Saloon at Sandringham House.”
The king and Zelenskyy had previously met in 2023 at Buckingham Palace. In 2022, on the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Charles released a strong message of support for Ukraine, condemning the “indescribable aggression” faced by Ukrainians and praising the “determination and strength of the Ukrainian people”.
The meeting occurred amid calls from certain groups for the planned Trump state visit to be delayed or cancelled.
Scottish national party (SNP) leader and Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, described Zelenskyy as “the courageous leader of the courageous Ukrainian people” and expressed his objection to the White House events. He argued that the US should be a full-scale partner in protecting Ukrainian independence before considering Trump’s state visit.
Keir Starmer refused to engage in debates about revoking the state visit, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the situation in Europe.
Others, like Alicia Kearns and former defence minister Tobias Ellwood, echoed concerns about the steadfastness of US commitment to its allies and the potential implications for the king’s role.
Former Tory leader Michael Howard noted the difficulty it would pose for the king to host Trump, given his actions during a recent meeting with Zelenskyy. However, he suggested that it might be a way to influence the US administration.
Labour peer George Foulkes suggested that the diplomatic response would be for the king to be occupied for the next few months.
