White House clash between Trump and Zelenskyy raises stakes for European summit in London

The summit has now taken on greater importance in defending Ukraine and shoring up the continent’s defenses

UK chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves holds a video conference meeting with Ukraine's Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko, as UK prime minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy watch. Picture: Toby Melville/PA Wire

It was supposed to cap a week of whirlwind diplomacy advancing the prospect of peace in Ukraine.

But a summit of European leaders on Sunday has been overshadowed by the extraordinary scolding by US President Donald Trump of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday for being ungrateful for US support.