Zelenskyy arrives in UK for talks, confirms meetings; reports of Abramovich meeting emerge

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the United Kingdom on June 7 for scheduled talks. He confirmed via Telegram his participation in bilateral discussions with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and an E3+Ukraine format meeting. This latter meeting is set to include French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Starmer, and 'German Chancellor Friedrich Merz', as stated by Zelenskyy and reported by several outlets. However, Friedrich Merz is the leader of Germany's opposition CDU party, not the current Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, a point previously highlighted in media reports. Separately, an informed government source indicated that President Zelenskyy met with Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in Kyiv in May. The Russian side reportedly initiated this private meeting to explore Ukraine's conditions for ending the conflict. Additionally, reports noted a change in Zelenskyy's international travel route, with his flight to the UK originating from Chisinau, Moldova, rather than the previously common Rzeszów, Poland. Sources: Радіо Свобода, Суспільне Новини, Українська правда