On October 24, 2025, world leaders converged in London for a pivotal summit aimed at recalibrating the West’s response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, brought together Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and other European heads of state to hash out new strategies for supporting Kyiv and ramping up the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
As the war grinds into its fourth year, the stakes have arguably never been higher. The London talks, attended in person and via video link by more than two dozen leaders, focused on several urgent measures: using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukrainian defense, tightening sanctions on Russian oil and gas, and supplying Kyiv with desperately needed long-range missiles. According to AP, Zelenskyy made a direct appeal to the United States to broaden the latest sanctions—currently targeting only Rosneft and Lukoil—across the entire Russian oil sector. "We have to apply pressure not only to Rosneft and Lukoil, but to all Russian oil companies," he emphasized at a London news conference.
The diplomatic flurry comes at a moment of both opportunity and uncertainty. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, speaking to Reuters, expressed optimism that the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia were edging closer to a diplomatic solution. Yet, on the ground, the violence shows little sign of abating. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed this week to have captured ten Ukrainian villages in the Donetsk region, while Ukrainian cities endured another wave of drone, missile, and glide bomb attacks. In Kherson, Russian artillery struck a residential block, killing two and injuring 22, including a teenager. For the first time, Russian forces also deployed glide bombs in the Odesa region—a move described by local official Oleh Kiper as "a new, serious threat."
According to BBC, these developments have only intensified the urgency among Ukraine’s Western backers. Prime Minister Starmer told reporters there was “absolute clarity” that progress on using frozen Russian assets to fund a major loan for Ukraine must be realized quickly. The United States and European Union have frozen hundreds of billions of dollars in Russian reserves, but EU leaders—particularly Belgium, where much of the money is held—have hesitated to release the funds over legal and financial concerns. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was adamant: "We have to work in a way that we have a solution before Christmas Eve so we are able to ensure that we can finance Ukraine for the next years. I am sure that we will be able to do that."
The question of long-range missiles loomed large over the London summit. Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for the U.S. to send Tomahawk missiles, which could strike deep into Russian territory and potentially shift the balance on the battlefield. While President Donald Trump’s administration recently imposed new sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies—a move Zelenskyy called "a big step"—the White House remains noncommittal on the issue of missile transfers. NATO chief Mark Rutte, after discussing the matter with Trump, told reporters, "The issue remains under review by the president and again, it's up to the U.S to decide."
European leaders echoed the need for greater unity on sanctions. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof stated, "The EU should follow British and U.S. sanctions on Russian oil firms." Starmer, for his part, welcomed the EU’s latest sanctions package but insisted that progress on using frozen assets must "come to fruition within a short timetable." The message was clear: the West must act quickly and decisively or risk losing momentum.
Beyond the headlines, a series of practical challenges remain. As winter approaches, Ukraine’s power grid has become a prime target for Russian drones and missiles. The London talks addressed ways to bolster Ukrainian air defenses and protect critical infrastructure. British Defense Secretary John Healey described the proposed "reassurance force" as "a force to help secure the skies, secure the seas, a force to help train Ukrainian forces to defend their nation." While the force would not involve Western troops on Ukrainian soil, officials say it would provide air and naval support, as well as training and equipment to Ukrainian forces.
Meanwhile, the conflict’s toll on civilians and infrastructure continues unabated. According to Ukrainian authorities, Russian artillery and glide bombs have caused extensive damage in Kherson, Kharkiv, and Odesa, with train delays and route changes announced in several regions due to "massive shelling." In Moscow, the city’s air defenses downed multiple Ukrainian drones, forcing flight suspensions at two airports. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have downed 111 Ukrainian drones overnight, while local officials reported injuries and property damage from falling debris.
Despite these setbacks, Zelenskyy’s visit to London included a symbolic show of support from King Charles, who hosted the Ukrainian leader at Windsor Castle. The king has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine, having previously met with Zelenskyy after a tense meeting with President Trump in February.
For all the talk of diplomacy, the reality on the ground is that neither side appears ready to make major concessions. Putin has steadfastly refused to enter serious negotiations, instead making, in Starmer’s words, "ludicrous demands for Ukrainian land, which he could not and has not taken by force." NATO’s Mark Rutte was blunt in his assessment: Putin "is running out of money, troops and ideas." Yet, Russia remains adept at finding loopholes in Western sanctions, and Moscow has promised a "painful response" should its frozen assets be seized.
As the war drags on, the West faces tough questions about its long-term commitments. Can the U.S. and Europe provide the financial and military support Ukraine needs to survive and rebuild? Will the use of frozen Russian assets set a precedent for future conflicts? And, perhaps most importantly, will the promise of new sanctions and weapons be enough to deter further Russian aggression, or simply prolong a grinding war of attrition?
For now, the London summit has injected a sense of urgency and unity into the Western response. Whether that momentum can be sustained—and translated into real change on the battlefield—remains to be seen.
