British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier Saturday, Starmer said in the same statement. 

According to a summary of that call, the two leaders agreed that the meeting taking place on Saturday in Kent would be a “vital forum to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace” in Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen “has been in contact with EU leaders in preparation of the meeting” and will “remain in regular contact with them also on the outcomes of the meeting,” Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said in an emailed statement.

Later Saturday, von der Leyen along with the leaders of Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Finland issued a statement stressing the need to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and include Kyiv in peace negotiations.

“The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine,” the leaders said in the statement. “We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday evening that he had spoken with Zelenskyy, as well as Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. “Ukraine’s future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians, who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now,” Macron said in a post on X. “Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as their own security is at stake,” Macron said.

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