UK Hosts Urgent London Talks on Russian Aggression Amid Ukraine Drone Attacks; US Demands Ceasefire and Sanctions

On May 12, 2025, the UK hosted a Weimar+ meeting in London with European ministers to address Russian aggression in Ukraine. The meeting followed an ultimatum for a 30-day ceasefire or increased sanctions. As talks began, Ukraine reported a major drone attack by Russia, damaging infrastructure and injuring civilians. The US, through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, supported the ceasefire and sanctions. Russian President Putin rejected the ceasefire, proposing talks in Turkey instead. The UK and EU plan new sanctions if Russia continues hostilities, emphasizing European security coordination amid US policy shifts.

UK Hosts Weimar+ Talks Amid Renewed Russian Attacks

Foreign Secretary David Lammy welcomed counterparts from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the European Union to London for the sixth meeting of the Weimar+ group, and the first hosted by the UK. The coalition, formed in February 2025 in response to shifting U.S. policy under President Donald Trump, aims to coordinate European efforts on Ukraine and broader continental security.

The UK Foreign Office stated the talks would focus on “repelling Russian aggression and bolstering European security,” with Lammy expected to announce new sanctions targeting individuals and entities supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“This is a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent,” Lammy said ahead of the meeting. “The challenge we face today is not only about the future of Ukraine – it is existential for Europe as a whole.”

Ukraine Reports Massive Drone Assault

As European ministers gathered in London, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russian forces launched 108 drones overnight, including Iranian-made Shahed drones and decoys. According to a statement on Telegram, 55 drones were intercepted and destroyed by Ukrainian air defenses, which included aviation units, anti-aircraft missile systems, and mobile fire groups.

The attacks caused damage to residential buildings in the southern Odesa region and injured at least one person. In the eastern Donetsk region, a Russian drone strike damaged a freight train, injuring the locomotive’s driver and a civilian, according to Ukraine’s state railway company.

“Truce proposals are being ignored, hostile attacks on railway infrastructure continue,” Ukrainian Railways said in a statement.

US Reaffirms Support for Ceasefire and Sanctions

In parallel with the London talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate calls with UK Foreign Secretary Lammy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to the U.S. State Department, Rubio emphasized that Washington’s “top priority remains bringing an end to the fighting and an immediate ceasefire.”

The U.S. has backed the European proposal for a 30-day unconditional truce, which was presented during a joint visit to Kyiv on May 10 by French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The leaders warned that failure by Russia to comply would result in “massive sanctions” and increased military support for Ukraine.

Putin Rejects Ceasefire, Proposes Talks in Turkey

Despite the coordinated Western push for a ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected the 30-day truce proposal. Instead, he has offered to hold direct negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul on May 15. However, the Kremlin has not committed to halting hostilities ahead of the proposed talks.

Zelenskyy responded by stating he would be present in Turkey on Thursday, but reiterated that a ceasefire must precede any meaningful negotiations. “A ceasefire would provide the necessary basis for diplomacy,” he said in a video address.

European leaders have expressed skepticism over Putin’s intentions. French President Macron described the Istanbul proposal as a “first step, but not enough,” warning that it may be a tactic to “buy time.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, attending the London meeting, accused Russia of “playing games” and said, “It takes two to want peace. It takes only one to want war. And we see that Russia clearly wants war.”

Drone Warfare Escalates on Both Sides

The drone war between Ukraine and Russia has intensified in recent months. Ukraine has developed a vast network of workshops producing over 2 million small first-person-view (FPV) drones monthly. These drones, equipped with small warheads, have been used to target Russian troop formations, artillery, and supply lines, creating a 16-mile-wide “kill zone” behind the front lines.

Russia, in turn, has deployed its own drone fleets, including advanced fiber-optic-controlled drones that are harder to jam. However, Ukrainian forces have adapted by using FPV drones operating on non-standard frequencies to counter Russian jamming systems, including the newly deployed “Black Eyes” jammer, which Ukrainian experts have labeled “dangerous.”

Sanctions and Diplomatic Pressure Mount

The London meeting is expected to result in the announcement of new sanctions against individuals and organizations supporting Russia’s military operations. The UK and its European partners have signaled that they are prepared to escalate economic pressure on Moscow if it continues to reject the ceasefire proposal.

“We must stand together, allied in our protection of sovereignty, of peace, and of Ukraine,” Lammy said. The EU’s Kaja Kallas added that without a ceasefire, “there cannot be talks under fire.”

The Weimar+ group’s formation and its latest meeting underscore growing European resolve to act independently amid uncertainty over U.S. foreign policy under President Trump. While Trump has expressed impatience with Putin and supported the ceasefire proposal, his administration’s broader stance has prompted European nations to strengthen their own security coordination.

References

• UK hosts European ministers for Ukraine talks after ceasefire ultimatum
• Ukraine updates: UK to host 'critical' talks on Russia – DW – 05/12/2025
• Putin answers Zelensky's ceasefire proposal with drone attack
• Ceasefire remains a 'priority,' Rubio says amid Trump's call for immediate Ukraine-Russia talks
• Zelenskyy challenges Putin to meet him in Turkey 'personally' for ceasefire talks
• Ukrainian Drones Patrol A 16-Mile Kill Zone. ‘If You Simply Drive On Any Roads, You Risk Your Life,’ One Russian Blogger Warned.