Ukraine's Zelenskyy seeks funding for contract army, discusses peace and aid with European leaders

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has engaged in a series of diplomatic discussions, seeking international funding to transition the nation's military to a contract-based system, stating that "being a soldier now is dangerous." He also discussed with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer the potential use of funds from the sale of Roman Abramovich's Chelsea Football Club to bolster Ukraine's air defense, acknowledging the complexity of the issue. Separately, Zelenskyy held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron to explore "available prospects" for diplomacy and a potential end to the conflict. Concurrently, a joint statement from Ukraine and E3 leaders (UK, France, Germany) condemned the "Oreshnik" system and outlined five conditions for a lasting peace, underscoring Europe's role in the settlement.

Sources: Громадське, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда