The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has given Volodymyr Zelenskyy a warm welcome to London, a day after the Ukrainian leader's clash with United States President Donald Trump.
The two countries also unveiled a £2.26 billion ($4.58 billion) loan agreement to support Ukraine's defence capabilities, to be paid back with the profits of immobilised sovereign Russian assets.
Supporters cheered as Zelenskyy's convoy swept into Downing Street on Saturday, where he was embraced by Starmer and posed for photographs before heading inside the UK leader's home.
"You're very, very welcome here in Downing Street," Starmer told Zelenskyy.
"And as you've heard from the cheers street outside, you have full backing across the United Kingdom, and we stand with you with Ukraine for as long as it may take."
Starmer said both leaders wanted to achieve "a lasting peace for Ukraine, based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine — so important for Europe and so important for the United Kingdom".
Zelenskyy responded thathe had seen the hundreds of supporters gathered outside Downing Street.
"I want to thank you, the people of the United Kingdom, for such big support from the very beginning of this war," he added.
The pair met behind closed doors for around 75 minutes, and embraced again as Starmer escorted Zelenskyy to his car.
Zelenskyy is due to meet King Charles III on Sunday.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (left) and Keir Starmer (right) met behind closed doors for around 75 minutes. Source: AAP / Peter Nicholls/PA
'A new age of infamy'
Earlier on Saturday, Zelensky had stressed that Trump's support was still "crucial" for Ukraine despite their row the previous day.
The clash was a further shock to Kyiv's European allies, still adjusting to the US' new stance on the war.
On Friday, Trump berated Zelenskyy for not being "ready" for peace with Russia, triggering alarm across Europe.
"Yesterday evening underlined that a new age of infamy has begun," said Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Starmer were among several other European leaders who reiterated their support for Kyiv after the row.
In an interview with the BBC, NATO chief Mark Rutte said that he had told Zelenskyy he had to "find a way" to restore his relationship with Trump.
Russian politicians were delighted, however.
Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev called Zelenskyy an "insolent pig" who had received "a proper slap down in the Oval Office".
Although Zelenskyy left the White House without having signed the deal on Kyiv's rare minerals, he insisted he was still ready to sign it as "the first step toward security guarantees".
"It's crucial for us to have President Trump's support. He wants to end the war, but no one wants peace more than we do," Zelenskyy said in a post on social media platform X.
On Sunday, Zelenskyy will attend emergency talks with Kyiv's European backers, also attended by Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
