European heavyweights rallied around Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London on Monday night, racing to construct a financial firewall for Ukraine before the diplomatic winds from Washington shift completely.

At the heart of the high-stakes summit was a desperate bid to unlock £78 billion (approx. KES 13.3 trillion) in frozen Russian assets. This massive capital injection is viewed as the last line of defense for Kyiv’s sovereignty as U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies pressure for a peace deal that could force Ukraine to cede territory—a precedent that rings alarm bells for nations globally, including here in Africa.

A Race Against Washington

The urgency in Downing Street was palpable. While details remain scarce on the final mechanism, the goal is clear: convert immobilised Russian funds into a loan that can keep Ukraine’s government and military afloat.

This push comes immediately after President Trump expressed that he was “a little disappointed” in Zelenskyy. In a move that has unsettled diplomats from Brussels to Nairobi, Trump claimed—without providing evidence—that the Ukrainian people “love” his proposal and that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “fine with it.”

Critics argue the U.S. plan heavily favours Moscow. To counter this, European leaders are attempting to solidify what they call a “just and lasting peace” before the geopolitical landscape fractures further. The summit included:

• Host: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
• Key Allies: French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
• Broader Support: Leaders from seven other European nations, plus EU and NATO chiefs

The 13-Trillion Shilling Standoff

For the Kenyan reader, the scale of the money on the table is staggering. The £78 billion in question is roughly equivalent to Kenya’s entire GDP. Accessing these funds, however, is legally and politically complex.

Despite the show of unity, no final signature was put on the asset transfer Monday night. Downing Street officials noted only that “positive progress” was made. The hesitation stems from the legal precedent of seizing sovereign assets—a move that makes global financial markets nervous.

Yet, the leaders were unequivocal about the stakes. In a joint statement, they warned that now is a “critical moment” to ramp up economic pressure on Moscow. For Kenyans, who have seen the cost of fuel and fertilizer fluctuate wildly due to this conflict, the stability of Europe remains inextricably linked to the price of goods in the local supermarket.

As the talks concluded, the message to Washington was implicit but firm. The leaders vowed to pursue “robust security guarantees” against further Russian aggression, signaling that while the White House may be ready to cut a deal, Europe is preparing for the long haul.