UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reaffirmed strong support for Ukraine and signed a loan agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy worth 2.26 billion British pounds ($2.84 billion, 2.74 billion euros) to support Ukraine's defense capabilities.

Starmer greeted Zelenskyy with a warm embrace on Saturday after the Ukrainian leader flew to London for talks following his clash at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump.

During their meeting at Downing Street, Starmer said Ukraine has "full backing across the United Kingdom." He stressed Britain's "unwavering determination" to achieve lasting peace.

According to Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko, the loan is to be paid back with the profits of immobilized sovereign Russian assets. Zelenskyy and Starmer, together with UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, held a video call with Marchenko on Saturday evening.

Zelenskyy hailed "a meaningful and warm meeting" with Starmer and thanked him for the support Britain has shown to Ukraine since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

Confirming the loan agreement, Zelenskyy wrote on social media platform X: "This loan will enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities... The funds will be directed toward weapons production in Ukraine."

Zelenskyy's visit came ahead of a defense summit Britain is hosting, with European leaders gathering in London on Sunday to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine. Starmer has said he believes such a deal will have to involve the United States.

The Ukrainian president traveled to Britain following a meeting with Trump on Friday evening in the White House, where a routine presence in front of a press pool erupted into an unexpected shouting match.

The fiery exchange between the two sides started with an interjection by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who demanded that Zelenskyy be thankful for Trump's efforts to get his country out of its three-year conflict with Russia. After the public clash, Zelenskyy was eventually asked to depart the White House early, leaving the planned minerals deal between the two sides unsigned.

Before his plane touched down in London earlier on Saturday, Zelenskyy posted on X that Ukraine is "ready to sign the minerals agreement" with the U.S., but "a ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine."

In an interview with Fox News after the clash, Zelenskyy said he respected Trump and American people, but he did not believe he owed Trump an apology.

"I think that we have to be very open and very honest, and I'm not sure that we did something bad," Zelenskyy said.

(With input from agencies)