Protests erupted in central London following a joint statement by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney asserting that any peace deal on Ukraine must involve Kyiv directly. Demonstrators criticized what they described as premature diplomatic maneuvering, warning against any deal negotiated over Ukraine’s head—particularly in light of an upcoming Trump–Putin summit in Alaska.

The protests, although not massive, were well-organized and pointed. Protesters gathered outside Whitehall and the Canadian High Commission, holding banners that demanded full Ukrainian sovereignty and transparency in the peace negotiations. Organizers framed their message around accountability, not pacifism: peace must be structured around Ukraine’s terms, not geopolitical convenience.

The UK-Canada stance is a direct challenge to mounting speculation that the U.S.–Russia summit could produce a ceasefire framework without Ukrainian consent. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance recently hosted Ukrainian and EU officials at a high-level meeting in Kent aimed at shaping a unified Western position ahead of the talks.

President Zelenskyy has reiterated that any deal requiring territorial concessions is off the table. His government views exclusion from peace talks as a threat to national integrity and a destabilizing precedent for international law.

European capitals have rallied behind that view. Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the EU Commission have each reaffirmed that Ukraine must be present in any negotiation. Officials warn that bypassing Kyiv would not only compromise the durability of a settlement but also fracture Western alignment on sanctions and defense aid.

The coming days will test whether the UK-Canada declaration can translate into diplomatic leverage. If Washington proceeds without Kyiv’s full involvement, European governments may shift toward more assertive policies—potentially tying military support or sanctions relief to Ukrainian participation.

The protests serve as a visible signal to both domestic and international leaders: legitimacy in peace efforts demands inclusivity. Excluding Ukraine would not only undermine the deal’s stability but also provoke political and public backlash across allied capitals.