LONDON — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz raised doubts over the U.S.-led peace plans for Ukraine ahead of a crucial meeting over Kyiv’s future in London on Monday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hosting Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Downing Street after the U.S. held talks with both Moscow and Kyiv about ending the war, nearly four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

“I’m skeptical about some of the details which we are seeing in the documents coming from U.S. side. That’s why we are here,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after arriving in Downing Street, and ahead of private discussions, Merz reiterated the strength of European support for Ukraine “because we all know that the destiny of this country is the destiny of Europe.”

Macron said European nations “have a lot of cards in our hands,” including “the fact that Ukraine is resisting in this war, and the fact that the Russian economy is starting to suffer.”

Europeans, Ukrainians, and Americans needed to converge their common positions to deliver the best outcome for “collective security,” he added.

Zelenskyy said unity between the three blocs was crucial as there were  things “we can’t manage without Americans [and] things we can’t manage without Europe.”

The three leaders were met by Starmer on a red carpet on Monday afternoon. The British PM said there needs to be “a just and lasting ceasefire.”

Thawing frozen assets

Ahead of the meeting, a U.K. official, not authorized to speak on the record, said Downing Street hopes there will be movement “soon” on the use of frozen Russian assets to support the war effort in Ukraine, which faces a budget shortfall of €71.7 billion next year.

The U.K. has been considering how it can use Russian state assets in the U.K. to provide new loans to Ukraine — mirroring a plan floated by the European Union. The bloc’s own plan has hit a roadblock, with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever concerned his country could be required to pay the money back to Moscow.

Peace talks between the U.S. and Russia in Moscow last week ended without a result, and discussions between Kyiv and Washington over the weekend also failed to deliver a breakthrough.

Significant divisions remain between the two sides over Western security guarantees for Ukraine in any peace agreement, and over Russia’s territorial claims.

Zelenskyy told Bloomberg Monday the U.S.-led peace plans require further discussions on “sensitive issues.” There is no “unified view” on Donbas, the eastern Ukrainian region, he said.

“There is one question I — and all Ukrainians — want to get an answer to: if Russia again starts the war, what will our partners do?,” he added.

Donald Trump on Sunday said he was a “little bit disappointed that President Zelenskyy hasn’t yet read the proposal,” claiming “his people love it.” The U.S. president also suggested Russia “is fine with it.”

His eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., also suggested Sunday his father may walk away from Ukraine if it doesn’t make peace with Russia.