Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Britain, France and Italy as part of a tour of European leaders aimed at securing aid ahead of key US elections next month.
Kiev could face its worst winter this year as Russia delivers fresh blows to the country's power grid and advances along its eastern front line.
During the tour, the Ukrainian leader will try to secure as much financial and military support as possible because the prospect of a Donald Trump victory in November's crucial U.S. election puts Washington's backing in doubt.
As part of the travel-heavy itinerary, Zelensky will meet with the leaders of France, Germany, Britain and Italy - all of them in their countries in less than 48 hours.
According to Downing Street, the Ukrainian leader will visit UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London and also meet with new NATO head Mark Rutte.
He will then be in Paris for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, and is later expected to travel to Rome for talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Italian media reported.
On Friday, Zelensky has an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican and on the same day he will meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, according to a German government spokeswoman.
A key meeting planned for Saturday with international allies was postponed after U.S. President Joe Biden canceled a planned trip to Europe to focus on the threat from hurricane Milton.
Zelensky says his country desperately needs more help to change the balance in the war and secure victory on the battlefield as Russia seizes dozens of small towns and villages in the east of the country.
He also wants permission to use long-range weapons supplied by allies, including the United States, to strike military targets deep inside Russia.
Ukraine is counting on billions of dollars in financial and military aid from Washington to fight the Russian invasion, and the U.S. presidential election in November could prove decisive.
Republican candidate Donald Trump has promised to end the war "in 24 hours" if elected - a prospect that Kiev fears it will be forced to make huge compromises to achieve peace.
Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris has said she will not meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin for peace talks if Ukraine is not also represented.
Zelensky rejected any peace plan that would involve ceding territory to Russia, arguing that Moscow must withdraw all its troops from Ukraine's internal borders to achieve a lasting peace. | BGNES
