What you need to know from a monumental week in Ukraine

It's been a week like no other for Ukraine and the attempts being made at a diplomatic level to end the war with Russia.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with presidents, prime ministers, cabinet ministers and kings in the last seven days - all in front of the world's cameras.

Here, we break down what's been happening on each day over the last week for Mr Zelenskyy, Ukraine and the wider international quest to bring the war with Russia to a permanent end.

Starmer heads to Washington - Thursday 27 February

After weeks of preparation, Sir Keir Starmer made his first visit to the White House to meet Donald Trump.

The meeting went smoothly and actually contained some wins for the prime minister.

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Mr Trump fangled the prospect of a "very good" trade deal and looked genuinely pleased with the invitation for an "unprecedented" second state visit.

But the biggest prize, that of US security guarantees for a Ukraine peace deal, remained elusive.

An unprecedented row - Friday 28 February

The much-anticipated visit of Mr Zelenskyy to the White House came a day after Sir Keir's visit, and the meltdown that ensued in the Oval Office will surely go down in history.

Mr Trump and vice president JD Vance publicly berated Mr Zelenskyy on everything - from his apparent lack of gratitude for US support during the war, right down to the clothes he chose *not* to wear.

In a warning shot to Mr Zelenskyy, Mr Trump said at one point: "You're either going to make a deal or we're out, and if we're out, you'll fight it out. I don't think it's going to be pretty."

Mr Zelenskyy ended up leaving the White House before a planned news conference and, crucially, without signing a critical minerals deal.

He took to social media soon after his exit, expressing his thanks to Mr Trump, America and its people for support to Ukraine.

Mr Trump also posted online, describing the meeting as "very meaningful", and saying he was "determined" that Mr Zelenskyy "is not ready for peace if America is involved".

Zelenskyy welcomed in London - Saturday 1 March

Russia's response to the White House drama was simple, labelling it a political and diplomatic "failure".

Mr Zelenskyy himself didn't have much time to dwell on the Oval Office disaster, heading to London to meet with the prime minister a day later.

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The Ukrainian looked visibly moved by the crowds lining the streets outside Downing Street to welcome his convoy and when Sir Keir embraced him on the steps of Number 10.

Inside, Sir Keir told Mr Zelenskyy he has "full backing across the United Kingdom" and later announced £2.6bn in loans to support Ukraine.

In the evening, Sir Keir had "constructive" calls with Mr Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron before saying Ukraine's allies were "at a turning point" in the conflict.

King Charles and the four-point plan - Sunday 2 March

Ending the weekend in the UK, Mr Zelenskyy met with King Charles ahead of a meeting of world leaders for a security summit on Ukraine.

The Ukrainian flew by helicopter to the monarch's Sandringham residence in Norfolk, where the two held talks.

After his royal meeting, Mr Zelenskyy was back in London where Sir Keir declared that a "coalition of the willing" will come together and draw up a peace plan to end the war.

The prime minister said this would enforce any peace deal in Ukraine and the plan would be presented to Mr Trump for his support, with four key points for peace unveiled.

Those four points, agreed by attendees of the summit, included guarantees over Ukraine's sovereignty and security, promises over the supply of military aid and to defend any deal to ensure a lasting peace.

After the summit, Mr Zelenskyy gave interviews to reporters in which he said a deal to end the war with Russia was "still very, very far away".

US-Ukraine relations on a knife edge - Monday 3 March

It's fair to say those comments didn't go down well across the pond, with Mr Trump calling it "the worst statement that could have been made".

"America will not put up with it for much longer!" he posted.

Later, Mr Zelenskyy said in a statement that Ukraine was "counting on America's support on the path to peace".

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Aid cuts and olive branches - Tuesday 4 March

Europe woke up on Tuesday to the news that Trump had paused US military aid to Ukraine, with no indication on how long the pause would last.

The move marked a significant shift in US foreign policy, one previously considered unthinkable, with some analysts noting the American president was treading a fine line between dealmaking and blackmailing.

The Kremlin described the pause as the "best contribution to the cause of peace", but there were fears in Ukraine that the "catastrophic" decision could kill "thousands".

A statement from Mr Zelenskyy came a few hours later, describing his disastrous meeting with Mr Trump as "regrettable" and saying Kyiv was "ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible".

Crucially, he said: "We are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky - ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure - and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same."

Appealing to the US president's ego, he praised Mr Trump's "strong leadership" and repeated his gratitude for past American support, adding that Kyiv was ready to sign its minerals deal with Washington.

That statement made its way straight to the hands of Mr Trump in the form of a letter, which he gladly presented to Congress during his record-breaking address to lawmakers.

Intelligence sharing paused - Wednesday 5 March

Despite the seemingly more positive tones being struck in Washington surrounding Ukraine following Mr Zelenskyy's letter, the US announced yesterday it was stopping sharing intelligence with Kyiv.

CIA director John Ratcliffe said the pause "will go away" eventually, adding Mr Trump wanted to give Mr Zelenskyy a "chance to think" about whether he was committed to the peace process.

A few hours later, Mr Zelenskyy said there has been "positive movement" in cooperation with Washington, with his aide saying a US-Ukraine meeting will take place in the "near future".

Back in the UK, Sir Keir addressed the House of Commons, where he received widespread, cross-party praise for his response to the developing Ukraine picture.

Former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said of the PM: "Whilst I often take great delight in criticism of the government, I think this weekend he has not really put a foot wrong."

In France, Mr Macron addressed his countrymen, saying the nation needs to prepare for when the US no longer stands by its side.

(c) Sky News 2025: What you need to know from a monumental week in Ukraine