President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Sandringham to meet King Charles has been warmly received by local residents and Ukrainians living in Norfolk.
The meeting, which lasted an hour, followed a tense political exchange between Zelensky, former US President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance in Washington.
More than 30 supporters, many waving Ukrainian flags, gathered at the estate to welcome Zelensky. Among them was Olena Batista, a King’s Lynn resident originally from Ukraine. She described the meeting as “very, very important,” emphasizing the UK’s ongoing military and humanitarian support for Ukraine.
Nearby residents Alison Cook and Robert Warwicker also came to show their support. Neither have personal ties to Ukraine, but both felt compelled to attend. Warwicker described feeling “helpless” after recent developments in US-Ukraine relations and believed the meeting at Sandringham sent a powerful message.
Ukrainian refugee Larysa Khlopetsa and her daughter Yuliia Peak, who now live in King’s Lynn, also made the trip to Sandringham. Originally from Mariupol, Peak said the meeting was a clear sign of continued UK support, which she described as “bigger than just ammunition.”
For many, the visit served as a reassuring gesture amid shifting global alliances. Khlopetsa, reflecting on Zelensky’s recent meeting in the US, called it “unfortunate” but said King Charles’ support “means more than anything else.”